Raising gifted kids : everything you need to know to help your exceptional child thrive /

Kukla (emer., psychology, Univ. of Toronto) and Walmsley (philosophy, University College Cork) state in their preface that they intend this volume as "an introduction to the science of psychology for the nonspecialist who isn't afraid to do a little thinking." This goal is admirably achieved. The authors present viewpoints about the mind held in the various schools of psychological thought. The summary of each major perspective focuses on the central tenets of each model as they relate to the discipline as a whole. Although the writing is dense, the authors' presentation of these sometimes-thorny, often-difficult constructs is clear and sometimes witty (the authors title a section about the behavioral revolution "Psychology Loses Its Mind" and the section on the cognitive revolution "Mind Regained"). This book offers not only a history of the most important contributions of the field but also an understanding of where psychology is at present. The conclusion is simple but profound. After more than a century of exploration, "the mind is still a mystery." ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. Lower-/upper-division undergraduates; faculty; general readers. D. M. Chirico York College CUNY

With two books touted as containing "all" and "everything" parents of gifted children "need to know," some redundancy can be expected, and, indeed, these books both cover much the same ground. That ground-which includes signs of giftedness, intelligence testing, gifted education, and learning disabilities-has been covered in other works as well, among them Kate Distin's Gifted Children: A Guide for Parents and Professionals. Educational psychologist Palmer focuses on testing and education. Writing in a clear and simple (bordering on simplistic) style, he presents the content in an organized, even, and balanced manner. "Quick Points" and sidebars provide brief summaries of the information presented in the various sections and chapters, making Parents' Guide a useful, if abbreviated, ready reference for parents. Klein's work, based on her clinical practice with parents of gifted children, is judgmental, opinionated, and prescriptionist. It is also filled with sweeping generalizations and stereotypes. Complex questions about parenting gifted children are given definite answers. Parents of gifted children are labeled as "accessory," "in denial," or "good enough," while those of nongifted children are routinely vilified as "jealous"; educators are seen as lazy and obstructionist. It is not clear whether the examples and case studies that make up the bulk of this work are real or fictional, but many span 20 to 30 years and seem contrived and predictable. References to actors, the entertainment industry, and the wealthy and influential of Hollywood and Los Angeles abound. Neither book is an essential purchase, but Palmer's does provide a simple, easy overview of testing and education and is therefore recommended for public libraries needing additional material in this area. Klein's will appeal primarily to the audience on which it is based.-Suzanne M. Stauffer, SLIS, Louisiana State Univ., Baton Rouge (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.