Child Development (8th Edition) [Hardcover]

Laura E. Berk (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Child Development, 8/e

"I remember having Laura Berk's text on Child Development in my own undergraduate class. I thoroughly enjoyed the text then, walking away with a deeper appreciation of child development. Reading the latest version just confirms my original view of the text, and having devoted my graduate and professional life to the study of developmental issues, I find the text to be nuanced, engaging and stimulating."

             - Geoff Navara, Trent University, Canada

 

 

“This text is my favorite in the field and I plan to continue to use it. The book is current, accurate, comprehensive, balanced, and well written.”

- Rebecca Bigler, University of Texas at Austin

 

 “…I enjoy teaching with this book….I have used this textbook for many years and find the coverage most appropriate, including the balance between theory, research, and practical issues.”

- Cecilia Wainryb, University of Utah

 

“The overall organization and coverage of Berk’s text are excellent. The chapters cohere and interweave quite nicely. Each chapter opens with an appealing, almost personal invitation to explore that chapter’s content. I like all the features used throughout the text. The text is multicultural without losing sight of the universals in child development. Each edition of Child Development features cutting-edge material.”

-          John Gibbs, Ohio State University

 

“I would adopt this textbook and advocate its adoption to colleagues.”

- Tracy Vaillancourt, McMaster University, Canada

 

“I think Berk’s book offers our professors and students the most comprehensive coverage of child development…This book well reflects Dr. Berk’s scholarship. It covers the most important issues, trends and cutting-edge topics in the field of child development…”

- Wenfan Yan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

 

“Berk has a long-standing reputation as a strong text for developmental courses, students always rate it highly, and the text and graphics are a pleasure to read and view.”

- Doug Symons, Acadia University, Canada

 

“This is a great book from which to teach…[it] covers a great deal of territory and is very comprehensive. .. the material is well organized and I like the developmental approach that is taken within each of the main topics. Berk has addressed the most important issues, trends and cutting edge topics very well… The visuals in the text are clear, appropriate, informative, and appealing. … The material is presented at an appropriate reading level; it is interesting, clear and well organized.”

- Nina Howe, Concordia University, Canada

 

“Berk has always done an admirable job of covering the essentials and adhering to the latest research on each and every topic…I have always been impressed with Dr. Berk’s choices for coverage… I really like how the text is organized with a diverse array of things to appeal to the distracted undergraduate reader. Berk has a gift for summarizing a great deal of the most relevant research and still making it accessible to students. .. It pushes students but does not overwhelm them. It is well written and therefore accessible…Dr. Berk is remarkably responsive to suggestions for further enhancement; each edition is improved in a judicious manner.

- David Nelson, Brigham Young University

 

“The overall organization of the material is excellent; it is clear and logical.”

- Lorinda Camparo, Whittier College

 

 

“The text is very well written and researched, and I would recommend it to a colleague…”

-                - Ellen Altermatt, Hanover College

 

Praise for Multicultural/Diversity coverage:

“The depth and breadth of the coverage of diversity and multicultural issues were excellent.”

- Wenfan Yan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

 

“I loved the [diversity and multi-cultural issues] sections — they were among my favorites because I felt I really learned something.”

- Scott P. Johnson, New York University

 

“A clear and obvious effort has been made to cover issues in cross-cultural research and to be inclusive of diversity…Good inclusion of gender similarities and differences.”

- Lorraine Taylor, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

 

“I think that cross-cultural research is increasingly a substantial portion of the research on child development…she has done a good job of being sensitive to many of these issues.”

- David Nelson, Brigham Young University

 

“The text has given? multicultural examples from other countries including non-Western ones, and not just cultural groups within the U.S.”

-          Doug Symons, Acadia University, Canada

 

Praise for Pedagogy:

“The stories and vignettes provide students with real-world examples of various theoretical or empirical constructs. Students comment specifically that connecting abstract constructs to real-world behaviors is especially effective and engaging…

The summaries are comprehensive and the italicized essay-type questions for various sections within the summary may be used as effective study guides for students as they organize reading material conceptually…Social Issues boxes, Cultural Influence boxes, and Biology and Environment boxes are current and may be used to foster discussion and debate. …[Milestones Tables are] wonderful! My students and I find the visual material to be helpful without being overwhelming or distracting.”

- Lorinda Camparo, Whittier College

 

“[Stories and Vignettes About Children] Love this!! It gives a nice concrete example of a topic(s) discussed in the chapter. It helps [students] understand the relevant material. It also sets up the chapter well. …[Ask Yourself questions] Great part of the chapter!! A nice way for the students to quiz themselves on the material they just read or studied. I definitely think this is very helpful for my students….[Biology and Environment boxes] …these boxes help bring these concrete concepts to the forefront and make it more meaningful to the students.”

- Catherine J. Massey, Slippery Rock University

 

“Stories and Vignettes About Children] Great! They really help to keep the book easy to read and interesting. [Chapter Introductions and End-of-Chapter Summaries] Very helpful! It is a good way to preview and review what was covered in the chapter. I especially like the format of the end-of-chapter summaries. It starts with questions (or tasks) followed by the answers. This not only summarized major concepts of the chapter, it also provided a good writing example for undergraduate students. [Applying What We Know] Very Important. I think students learn more when they see connections of what they know with the ‘real world’ with useful strategies.”

- Wenfan Yan, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

 

“I especially appreciate the sections on ‘From Research to Practice’, ‘Social Issues’, ‘Ask Yourself questions’ and ‘Applying What We Know’ — they always give me great ideas for fostering in-class discussions that help students see how the research and theory they study are manifested in the real world. My students always appreciate the stories and vignettes embedded in the text.”

- Cecilia Wainryb, University of Utah

 

.” ..The end of chapter summaries are great; students love these. [Social Issues boxes] provide additional perspectives on topics ...

Product Description

Long considered THE standard text in child development, the Eighth Edition of this best-selling topical approach to child development continues its tradition of being the most current and comprehensive text available.

 

Laura Berk, renowned professor and researcher in the field of child development, has revised her Child Development text, adding new pedagogy, a heightened emphasis on the interplay between biology and environment, expanded coverage of culture, and an enhanced focus on education, health, and social issues, including many social policy topics addressed throughout the text. Berk’s revision provides contemporary and cohesive coverage on contexts for development, including but also extending beyond the family to peers, schooling, media, neighborhoods, communities, and societal values and priorities.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 800 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 8 edition (July 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205615597
• ISBN-13: 978-0205615599
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,900 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #10 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Child Psychology
  #2 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Developmental Psychology
  #11 in	Books > Parenting & Families > Parenting > Babies & Toddlers > Child Development

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is good., June 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Child Development (Hardcover)

I am currently using this book for my Early Childhood Education(ECE)Diploma studies.This book has detailed and comprehensive topics and theories on Child Development.It also provides lots of pictures and graphics to enhance your understanding of what you read.This book is a must for anyone studying ECE or for those teaching children and wish to know more about Child development.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book, sucky publisher, September 6, 2008

By	Amy Nava "tuesdaymorning3" (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Child Development (8th Edition) (Hardcover)

I am so displeased with this publisher PEARSON I had to return and comment. The description of this book on Amazon hints to having the MyDevelopmentLab code seeing as how it's in the description. After spending over $100 I received the book with no codes. Our class is two weeks in and only a small handful of kids have the book. It was promised a month ago. Bad business of a publisher. I hope teachers re-think buying the latest editions. Not much has changed, I'm sure, in the last few years that a teacher couldn't look up herself and tell us about it. Instead we are forced to buy a book that doesn't even come with all it's parts!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great General Child Development Text, April 9, 2009

By	K. Oparil (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Child Development (Book Alone) (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

This is the BEST child development text I have been able to find as an overview of the many theories and stages of childhood. A great text that you will refer back to over and over again in your child development and psychology study.