THE HAPPY KID HANDBOOK

Narrator Kate Rudd's youthful voice creates a welcoming tone in this absorbing collection of common-sense parenting wisdom. Her fresh-sounding delivery sparks curiosity and makes it easy for overworked moms and dads to take a breath and hear the author's advice with an open mind. The strength of Katie Hurley's writing is in her thinking: Instead of just providing a list of do's and don'ts, she offers an assortment of child development insights on topics like creativity, empathy, cooperation, and emotional intelligence. Her suggestions, with help from Rudd's inviting approach, bring listeners into a child's world by repeating the theme that childhood should be a happy time, a time when children can express what they feel, explore what interests them, and find fulfillment in working and playing with others. T.W. © AudioFile 2016, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2016]