Infants, Children, and Adolescents (5th Edition) (MyDevelopmentLab Series) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"As always, Berk provides a comprehensive discussion of developmental issues. What I appreciate is that the text provides good coverage of areas that are often neglected by other texts (especially applied developmental issues)." — Debbie Laible, Southern Methodist University

"Making theories useful and fun to discuss is a chore, but Berk continues to make these user-friendly and applicable to the real world." — F. Richard Ferraro, University of North Dakota

"The writing in this edition is very clear, interesting and engaging. The level is perfect for my students. The explanations are appropriate, relevant, and clear. The examples are interesting and understandable. There are plenty of illustrations, photographs and review suggestions that guide the students toward success." — Sara Lawrence, California State University, Northridge

"We have used this text in our department for this course for several years now, just because it works. The students appear to like it, and they find it challenging and useful." — Colin T. William, Columbus State Community College

"I feel that one of the best compliments a student can give a text is to say 'I am not going to resell this book at the end of the semester — I am going to keep it as a reference book.' I hear this comment frequently from my students who use the Berk text." "The clarity and level of writing, the timeliness of the material, and the organization of the material make the text student-friendly." — Martin Marino, Atlantic Cape Community College

"The writing level of this text is exemplary! The integration of research findings and "plain language" explanations allows the students to interact seamlessly with the text." ". . . a wonderfully comprehensive and intelligent resource." — Matthew DiCintio, Delaware County Community College

"Probably one the greatest strengths of chapter 14 is the level at which it is written. . . . with the experience of a child developmental specialist, but not so technical that the students would be lost in jargon." "Berk combines the latest relevant research without making the text read like a science book." — Sandra Hellyer, Butler University

"Berk's text provides preservice teachers and others preparing to work with young children and their families a solid grounding upon which to base their work. It deserves a place on students' bookshelves throughout their careers as a basic reference." — Nancy Freeman, University of South Carolina

"I adopted the text because of the quality of writing and coverage of topics I feel are critical in developmental psychology." — Ron Craig, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

"I find the text to be very up-to-date and packed with research. Along with Berk's writing style, I continue to come back to her text." "I find Berk does a good job linking areas of development together which is a major emphasis of this course. I think the vignettes at the beginning of each chapter are helpful here." "I particularly like the links made between theory and education as this is the major application of the theories and provides the 'so what' part of developmental research. I try to get students understand why this research is important and how we apply it the real world. This is also why I like the boxes in each chapter - 'Applying What We Know.'" — Lisa Huffman, Ball State University

"I particularly appreciate Berk's inclusion of multicultural perspectives. It is important to help students, particularly those who are just beginning their professional preparation, to put what we know about young children and their development into a cultural context. This text does that masterfully with words AND with pictures." — Nancy Freeman, University of South Carolina

"I really enjoyed the writing style used by the author. I particularly liked the way that the story from the beginning of the chapter was woven throughout all the sections of each chapter. In addition, using the same characters in subsequent chapters really pulled together the links between developmental domains." — Lynn Caruso, Seneca College, Canada

"Writing Style: Fabulous! Information in these chapters is consistently presented in a clear, concise style. The reader is very much 'involved' in the material. This is achieved through the use of active language. . ." — Deb Gural, Red River College, Canada

"I think if a student feels the material he will know it. The value of the Ask Yourself sections is monumental." "The thing that I am most impressed with is the examples the author uses. I found that often I had new insights in to child development issues even though I have been teaching and working in the field for years. These insights were so well thought out that I think that they would be very helpful students when learning the material." — John Prange, Irvine Valley College

"The author's writing style is very engrossing. She is exceptionally accomplished in her knowledge of developmental psychology. I think her writing will be easy for my students to follow." — Algea Harrison, Oakland University

"At all times, Berk seems to make a real effort to keep the style clear and uncluttered. The use of unnecessary technical terms is avoided yet the key words/phrases that are needed to really describe the topic are there." — David Lockwood, Humber College, Canada

Product Description

As a best-selling, chronologically organized child development text, Berk Infants, Children, and Adolescents is relied upon in classrooms worldwide for its clear, engaging writing style and its commitment to examining the latest theory and research. Berk takes an integrated approach to presenting development in the cognitive, physical, emotional, and social domains; emphasizes the complex interchange between biology and environment; and provides exceptional attention to culture. The most recent scholarship in the field is presented in a manageable and relevant way. Students are drawn in by Berks signature storytelling style and learn beside the texts "characters" who experience real issues in development, including physical, cognitive, and peer challenges, as well as parenting and educational concerns. Students will recognize many topics of profound significance in todays world, such as poverty, welfare reform, health care, child-care quality, physical punishment, the obesity epidemic, and bilingual education, and learn what researchers have found about their impact on children. In the Fifth Edition, Infants, Children, and Adolescents has an even stronger emphasis on the interplay between biology and environment. Several reviewers of the fifth edition judge the coverage of brain and motor development to be the best in any child development text on the market today. Many aspects of the childs environment are considered, including home, extended family, school, neighborhood, community, social policy, and cultural influences. With unparalleled cross-cultural references, Infants, Children, and Adolescents, Fifth Edition is an indispensable resource for anyone caring for children in an increasingly global community. Throughout the Fifth Edition, Berk creates even stronger connections between developmental domains, and takes more opportunities to ask students to "Connect" topics to those in previous chapters. Berk also helps students connect their learning to their personal or professional areas of interest. Her voice comes through when speaking directly to students about issues they will face in their future pursuits as parents, educators, social workers, health care providers, and others who work to secure the welfare of children. This book is also available in an abridged paperbound version, Infants and Children: Prenatal Through Middle Childhood, comprised of Chapters 1-13.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 784 pages
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon; 5 edition (July 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205419283
• ISBN-13: 978-0205419289
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #166,579 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This text is useful for single-parents rearing children., March 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Infants, Children, and Adolescents (Hardcover)

As a Forensic Psychologist I use this text and recommend it to clients to better understand and appreciate the psycho-developmental needs of their children. Of particular interest to most of those parents are the diverse tables which clarify the expected and unique behaviors of children by age group. This provides those parents with a guide book to assist them in child rearing through age 18. That reference material not only facilitates the parent's understanding of the needs of the child, but also better prepares more effective parenting skills and preparation for developmental issues which are significant in custody and visitation (or access) legal questions. Parents have reported developing a feeling of confidence since they are using scientific data in making parenting decisiions. Legal authorities -- judges and attorneys -- have felt more confident in their recommendations, opinions, and decisions which are based upon evidence. -- Swen Helge, Ph.D.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Psychology class, June 22, 2009

By	Psych class student "SN" (Rochester, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Infants, Children, and Adolescents (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

The book is well written and very interesting. I don't mind reading it unlike other textbooks. Was a little nervous about it not getting it in the mail before my class started, but it did get shipped and delivered right on time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Textbook for class, January 31, 2009

By	T. Jordan-puryear - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Infants, Children, and Adolescents (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

I bought this book for a class; psychology is something I dread and have a difficult time reading psych textbooks. This book, however, is easy to read. I like the stories at beginning of each chapter; it sets up what the author will be discussing throughout the chapter nicely.