Expanding on her Lapsit Services for the Very Young (Neal-Schuman, 1995), Ernst, a children's librarian in public libraries for over 20 years, explains the whys and hows of library service to one- to two-year-olds and their caregivers. Her concise and readable overviews of recent brain research and basic child development are particularly valuable as tools to help librarians communicate this information to parents and caregivers. Ernst emphasizes throughout that the audience for lapsit programs is made up of adults as well as children. Her insights and suggestions are helpful and reassuring, especially in discussing services to special needs and bilingual families, teen parents, and grandparents. A chapter on service areas and outreach provides not only useful ideas but some wonderful language that could be used with governing boards or administrators to justify expanding services. Most of the book consists of an annotated bibliography, an index of titles by theme, the complete text for numerous finger plays and action rhymes, and tips for using crafts, puppets, musical instruments, and other props. Web sites and recommended books and articles appear at the end of each chapter. The text could have used more careful proofreading, but librarians who benefited from the first book will also appreciate this one, and newcomers will find all the tools necessary to begin or bolster services to very young children and their families. Rachel Quenk, Thomas Memorial Lib., Cape Elizabeth, ME
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
A practical book for beginners in baby programming and for seasoned professionals. Lapsit Services for the Very Young (Neal-Schuman, 1995) is one of the most valuable resources for librarians who provide programs for infants, and this new volume will proudly stand on its own in the body of work on this subject. Although some formatting is similar to the earlier title, the information and ideas in Lapsit II are all new. Ernst offers valuable explanations of the latest in brain-development research, stages in early-child development, and an excellent Webliography. This volume is rich with book suggestions, finger rhymes, songs, extension ideas, and other program resources. Thematic indexes and camera-ready handouts make it an essential tool for busy librarians trying to serve their youngest customers.
Cathy Fithian Williams, Columbus Metropolitan Library, OH
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.