Child Family Community

Drawing on dozens of intimate audio interviews with families from all across the country, award-winning psychologist and writer Andrew Solomon redefines what it means to be an “ideal family” in America today. Solomon observes that America, led in large part by the women’s, civil rights, and gay rights movements, has undergone a radical social shift in the last few decades. Although the structure of family has changed, economic and legal structures lag behind and need to adapt to accommodate this explosive new reality.

At its heart, polyvagal theory describes how the brain's unconscious sense of safety or danger impacts our emotions and behaviors. In this powerful book, pediatrician and neonatologist Marilyn R. Sanders and child psychiatrist George S. Thompson offer both a meditation on caregiving and a call to action. By attending to the lessons of polyvagal theory—that adult caregivers must be aware of children's unconscious processing of sensory information—the authors show how professionals can play a critical role in establishing a sense of safety even in the face of dangerous situations.

A beautiful resource for nature advocates, parents-to-be, animal lovers, and anyone who seeks to restore wellbeing on our planet, The Evolved Nest reconnects us to lessons from the animal world and shows us how to restore wellness in our families, communities, and lives.

Lucy’s father is a minor league baseball player, a professional pitcher hoping to get called up to the majors, and Lucy inherited his passion for the game. But she’s never played pitcher. She worries her skills would be compared to her dad’s and she’d never measure up. And his pitching may mean big things for his career and their family, but it’s also what keeps him away from home so much of the year. Sometimes, Lucy isn’t sure what would be worse: being bad at pitching or being great.

In this inspiring book, founders of The Holistic Life Foundation Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez describe how they have spent the past twenty years teaching yoga, meditation, and breathwork to thousands of at-risk kids in Baltimore schools helping them to develop deep reserves of patience, empathy, resolve, and—when needed—the righteous anger that fuels deep structural change. Their work has received wide national attention due to their remarkable results.

Over the past decade, children’s mental health challenges have reached epidemic levels—stress, anxiety, childhood depression, and suicide are at unprecedented high rates. Amid high-stakes pressure for kids to succeed, parents and teachers have never needed a road map to healthy child development more urgently. And as psychologist and educator Doug Bolton explains in this eye-opening guide, underlying our modern-day stresses is an even more pervasive problem: We’re relying on practices that are not in line with what science tells us about how to truly motivate children and help them thrive.

A Siberian village is a far cry from small-town Minnesota bliss… When Josey's husband gets relocated to this icy tundra, her dreams of a cozy and idyllic life quickly melt away. Say goodbye to indoor plumbing and junk food—hello to a whole new world of survival. But fear not, because Josey is not one to back down from a challenge. With the spirit of a feisty former missionary, she dives headfirst into multitasking like a pro. From juggling toddler twins to empowering local housewives and spreading God's word, Josey knows how to handle it all with a smile on her face. But amidst the ...

Discover how people grow, adapt, and thrive within the networks of relationships and environments that surround them. Growing Minds, Shaping Worlds: Understanding and Applying Ecological Systems Theory explores Urie Bronfenbrenner’s groundbreaking model of human development and reveals how family, school, community, culture, and history all interact to shape our lives. This accessible yet comprehensive book offers a clear guide to understanding the five systems—microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem—and shows why development can never be explained by ...

Calvin thinks heroes wear capes. His mom sometimes does. But when a winter of near-misses, power flickers, and neighborhood mysteries hits Maplewood, Calvin learns the real superpower isn’t flying—it’s making space for people. With a pocket notebook, a best friend who carries towels, and a librarian who believes in buttons, Calvin turns everyday moments into easy, repeatable plans: Heads Up at crosswalks, the Corner Code (Pause • Wave • Go), a Quiet Siren path for EMTs, and Please-Lines for crowded doors. Funny, high-energy, and fiercely family-focused, this chapter book ...

One hidden seam. One missing star. One small town learning to repair what breaks. When the Maple Glen quilting circle’s prized Thanksgiving Star disappears two days before the benefit supper, Lena Miller faces the worst kind of worry—the one that tugs at the heart of a community. She stitched an envelope of early donations into the quilt’s binding to keep the funds safe. Now the quilt is gone, and with it the money meant to feed the hungry and patch worn roofs. As whispers rise, Lena and her husband Jonas follow careful clues—golden thread on a porch rail, a cat with orange twine, a...

When Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert of Green Gables send for a boy orphan to help them out at their farm, they mistakenly get Anne Shirley, a feisty, independent but warm-hearted 11 year-old girl. Fortunately her sunny nature and quirky imagination win the hearts of her reluctant foster parents and everyone in the community. But not a day goes by without some memorable adventure or prank in the tragicomedy of her life.

When Eben McAllister reads about the Seven Wonders of the World, he longs to escape the small farming community of Sassafras Springs and do some exploring of his own. No one else ever seems to want to leave Sassafras, however, not even his best pal, Jeb, and so, for now, Eben figures he's stuck on the farm with Pa and Aunt Pretty until he grows up. All that changes when Pa, tired of Eben's moping, challenges him to find the Seven Wonders in Sassafras Springs.

See how you fit in the world by learning about communities.

The men who started it all, Milo and Olds! Milo would be completely irresponsible if life had been just a little easier on him. But you don’t survive for a century on your own if you’re just a . . . boy. Besides, Milo’s more than a little curious about life. He needs life to take him places, needs to experience things. Sometimes he even needs to take charge, like saving his nephew Daniel. Sometimes Milo’s the fool, sometimes he’s the one to save the day. Sometimes he’s the one with the very best ideas ever. Olds would be a steady rock if he didn’t let his fists control some of...

Everyone in the neighborhood dreams of a taste of Omu's delicious stew! One by one, they follow their noses toward the scrumptious scent. And one by one, Omu offers a portion of her meal. Soon, the pot is empty. Has she been so generous that she has nothing left for herself? Debut author-illustrator Oge Mora brings to life a heartwarming story of sharing and community as luscious as Omu's stew, with an extra serving of love. An author's note explains that "Omu" (pronounced AH-moo) means "queen" in the Igbo language of her parents, but growing up, she used it to mean "Grandma".

Fourth grade is not going at all how Benny Barrows hoped. He hasn't found a new best friend. He's still not a great bike rider - even though his brother, George, who's autistic, can do tricks. And, worst of all, he worries his dad's recent accident might be all his fault. Benny tries to take his mom's advice and focus on helping others and to take things one step at a time. But when his dad ends up in the hospital again, Benny doesn't know how he and his family will overcome all the bad luck that life seems to have thrown their way.

Join Imani, Tommy, and Maya on Their Most Important Adventure Yet! When magical seeds appear in their neighborhood, three young friends discover the true meaning of community in this heartwarming children's adventure story. Perfect for ages 6-9, "What Shall We Do Today? The Great Harvest" combines fantasy adventure with valuable life lessons about gratitude, service, and belonging. What makes this book special: • Educational Adventure: Children learn about farmers, community helpers, traditions, and the importance of gratitude through an engaging magical journey • Character Development:...

Dive into the first Breakfast Club Investigators mystery with Marcus and friends! This spooky adventure is the first exciting book in the series by England International footballer and bestselling author Marcus Rashford MBE. Inspired by Marcus's own experiences growing up! When twelve-year-old...

Lucky couldn’t get Eddie to love him if he paid the Aussie. So why does he keep showing up at all the shifter parties as his plus one when Lucky only invited him to that first one back in September? The man is an Aussie god, but he’s probably straight. Eddie’s careful. He doesn’t get involved with people, and yet things are different when it comes to Lucky. If only he could keep the man separate from his new shifter family, even if Lucky’s the one who introduced him to them. He was there first, even if the man isn’t even a shifter. He is the best friend of the writer. Ever since...

Oliver Jeffers offers a rare personal look inside his own hopes and wishes for his child - and in doing so gifts children and parents everywhere with a gently sweet and humorous missive about our world and those who call it home. Insightfully sweet, with a gentle humor and poignancy, here is Oliver Jeffers' user's guide to life on Earth. He created it specially for his son, yet with a universality that embraces all children and their parents.