Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families & Churches, Russell D Moore

****
I loved this book. Pete and I have been seriously considering adoption for the near future (we always thought we might someday but with the past years events we have been moving up the timeline). We loved the way Moore laid out a biblical theology of adoption and "walking" through the his experiences with adoption helped us think through what the road might look like in a new way.

Thanks Amy for suggesting it on your blog!

Parenting Your Infant/Toddler by the Spirit: Yes, you can lay the foundation for a godly character - Sally Hohnberger

**
I stopped reading this one when it seemed to be repeating without much new content. The  book was a good reminder to remember prayer in the midst of child training/correction and it did focus on infants a toddlers. I wasn't comfortable with the author's "style" however as she came across rather legalistic (she is a 7th day Adventist) and a lot of her "techniques" seemed more like toddler "healings" straight from the local tent meeting.  I would not recommend this book unless you were willing to dig with extra discernment for the diamonds in the rough.

Creative Correction (Focus on the Family Book) - Lisa Whelchel

***
Was a good interesting read and I will definitely come back to this looking for creative "consequences" once Leo is a little older but for the toddler age this material was definitely not yet applicable. Her style is really enjoyable however and it read almost like a novel. Definitely the "lightest" parenting book I've read, full of humorous stories yet it still provided some good practical information. Possibly a good productive vacation read :)

Teach Them Diligently: How To Use The Scriptures In Child Training - Louis Paul Priolo

****
I really liked this book as well - it's emphasis on bringing the scriptures into your child rearing was great. It had a lot of great principles and some practical advice as well - again it didn't deal a lot with the toddler age. The main thrust was on the parent's learning of scripture - which is great I totally agree - but I'd love for someone to come up with some tools to for me to teach my child biblical lessons in a way that we would both enjoy and doesn't take hours of planning. We have tons of bible books but really need some good bible board books as well as some books using bible stories (preferably) to deal with issues he faces - obeying parents being the primary one respecting others a good second.

Parenting by the Book - John Rosemond

 

****
This was a favorite of mine - Really enjoyed a guilt lifting look at what parenting used to be about. Great principles but not a lot of nitty gritty practicality for the toddler age. The great general framework for parenting however made it definitely worth the read!

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk - Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish

  

*
Have to admit I didn't finish this one - maybe I'll go back and skim the rest it had great tips on the general psychology of how conversations work but the parenting philosophy was way off base in my opinion.

Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood: Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years - Jim Fay, Charles Fay

***
I liked this book. While I don't agree with all their stances - they think spanking is cruel and that babies aren't defiant till they're two! - they were the first parenting book that I've read to give helpful PRACTICAL tips on how to deal with toddlers. I love their techniques to deal with tantrums and their helpful tips with response "procedures" that help you keep your cool in the heat of disobedience.

Nurture Shock - Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

***

Interesting and enlightening, this book challenges traditional thoughts on a variety of parenting techniques/methods. You have to read it to believe some of the theories the studies they discuss have uncovered. It might change the way you interact with your child in very fundamental ways...

Parenting with Scripture - Kara Durbin

 

***
This is a REFERENCE book. It lists scriptures that can be used to teach about different topics. The topics appear in the book alphabetically with discussion questions and application activities. A good resource but not really bedside reading. That said we've used it a couple of times already when looking for scripture to help with issues that Leo is encountering.

On Becoming Baby Wise - Gary Ezzo and Robert Bucknam

***
Same basic advice as Baby Whisperer for sleeping patterns. Seems like they offer a balanced approach. I disagreed with their thoughts on circumcision and immunizations, but otherwise generally liked their perspective - though the edition I read was "updated" in 2001. Maybe there is a more current version with the latest studies. We'll see how it all works out for us :)

Don't Make Me Count to Three! - Ginger Plowman

***
This is the missing companion to Tedd Tripp's book. Very practical and I really enjoy how she uses scripture in discipline, but wonder how that will look in the day to day. I don't want my kid's to associate the Bible with punishment! I guess its all in balance and making sure that is a small percentage of their exposure. I would love to hear what others thought of this book -especially if they have "out of the womb" kids to practice the techniques on!

Shepherding a Child's Heart - Tedd Tripp

****
Really like this book. I had previously read the first edition and listened to the talks available online. Same great material. Very biblical approach, gives you a good foundation. Would be helpful to have a larger practical advice section but it would be a lot to cover in one book. Should be interesting to see the rubber hit the road on this one for us - more prayer needed!

Your Baby's First Year - Steven P Shelov Editor

***
A good "Baby for Dummies". I definitely qualify in the dummy category. This has all the basic - though not in too much depth. And tons of medical information - be afraid be very afraid of all the things that can possibly be wrong with/ happen to your baby. But it is helpful to have some general categories to put different symptoms in and know which ones we really should freak right down to the emergency room with :) It was quite an effort to make it through this small "font-ed" 600+ page tome however. Blessings to those to attempt it.

Grace Based Parenting - Dr. Tim Kimmel

***
I thought this book had a lot of good advice and exhortations to be appropriately real and open with your kids. Humility and unconditional love are themes along with just generally not being to uptight. Mostly a "doctrine" of parenting a little light on the practical working out of the doctrine but still I though a worthwhile read.

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way - Susan McCutcheon

****
Pete and I both really like this book. It was totally helpful to read it along side taking our Bradley class. I felt like I learned so much about the birthing process, my body's anatomy and alternative ways of handling labor. Many of the assumptions of the book are outdated as the medical community has realized some things needed to change - PTL fewer episiotomies! But I think it's a worth while read. We'll see how the pain management suggestions work out - again uncharted waters.

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer - Tracy Hogg

***
I was recommended this book by my good friend Kendel who loved the schedule that she put together for baby sleeping. In fact we spent a fair bit of time trying to find the special schedule before we bought the book... this is all we could come up with, it's actually a transition from the 3 hour cycle to the 4 hour cycle:


I really liked her approach for most of the baby care - though the few times she mentioned discipline issues I realized I will not be purchasing any books she writes on toddler training. This is all in the theoretical for us right now the proof will be in the pudding come June/July :)