The Mother of All Parenting Books

Debbie Feisst is the reference/Internet resources librarian in the
Information Services Division of the Edmonton Public Library.

Ann Douglas has written 27 books, including the very popular The Mother
of All Pregnancy Books and The Mother of All Baby Books. An
award-winning journalist and mother of four, Douglas teaches online
courses on pregnancy and parenting, makes regular television and radio
appearances, and is a sought-after speaker for workshops.

This latest offering picks up where The Mother of All Toddler Books
leaves off, focusing on pre-school through preteen children. What makes
this series exceptional is that it is written for a Canadian audience.
Douglas does this by including uniquely Canadian perspectives on such
things as our healthcare system, climate, and education.

More than 100 parents were interviewed for the book, and their insights
and advice can be found throughout the text. Also included are practical
tips, trivia tidbits, bright ideas, statistics, and Canadian resources
for parents to follow up. The text is divided into 13 chapters: some of
these are “The Truth About Parenting,” “The Dirt on Discipline,”
“The Joy of Play,” and “The Joys and Perils of Parenting a
Preteen.” Key advice on difficult subjects such as spanking, bullying,
and children with special needs is given. Particular attention is paid
to the healthcare needs of growing children, immunization, and
nutrition. Two appendixes provide directories of Canadian parenting and
health organizations and useful websites. This no-nonsense book is
highly recommended.