Zero to Five: 70 Essential Parenting Tips Based on Science (and What I’ve Learned So Far)

Cutchlow (editor of Brain Rules for Baby) offers a straightforward parenting guide with lovely photographs by photojournalist Udesen. In contrast to similar guides that contain a “very large amount of very small type,” the author wants this book to be a “just-tell-me-what-to-do” collection of best practices. Regularly referring to research that supports her suggestions, Cutchlow covers topics that range from preparation for the baby’s arrival through discipline and includes contemporary concerns, such as screen time and meditation. Current understandings of brain development and executive function are recurring themes. In her conclusion, Cutchlow advances the reassuring idea that, even when parents make mistakes, “one bad day isn’t going to define your child—or you—forever.” The format of the book is unusual, with a spiral binding and landscape orientation that allows any two-page spread to lay open on a convenient surface. Each topic is color-coded so parents will know if it’s relevant to their child’s age, and most topics feature colorful photos of parents and their children. This will be a welcome addition to any parent’s library. (June)