MAMA ROCK'S RULES

Rose Rock, mother of comic Chris Rock, successfully raised 10 children and 17 foster children in Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, where, as Chris says, "Four out of five black men are either dead, in jail, or making a rap CD." How did she do it? Rose gives 10 rules for child rearing, based on how she ran her own household. Formerly a professional educator and now the host of a weekly radio program, Rose offers advice that is clear and no-nonsense. She believes, for example, that children look to parents not to be friends, but to be models for "doing right." Her narration is full of personal anecdotes, and her clarity and advice are well worth a listen for any parent. S.W. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2008]