Reviews three contemporary movies, "Sleepers,""Girls Town," and "Slingblade" in which the common thread is abuse of helpless children by patriarchal authorities, adult white men who assert power over young people. In all three movies, the anger of the young people and their friends suggests respect for the…

Reviews three books (1) "Montessori Play and Learn: A Parents Guide to Purposeful Play from Two to Six" (Lesley Britton); (2) "Health and Safety in Child Care" (Susan S. Aronson); and (3) "The Schoolhome: Rethinking Schools for Changing Families" (Jane Roland Martin). (MDM)

Reviews "Investigating Mathematics with Young Children" (Althouse); "Homecoming for Babies after the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery: A Guide for Parents," with companion guide for professionals (Hanson and VandenBerg); "HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Us All," with companion video (Pediatric AIDS Foundation); and "Modeling Healthy Behavior: Actions and…

Maintains that the strength of Bronson's book lies in its synthesis and connections to the major ideas in both developmental and educational psychology. Notes that the book's predictable organization makes it a handy resource for professionals working with children from birth to age 8, but suggests that the depth of knowledge displayed raises…

Reviews professional literature on such topics as the use of whole-language programs at all age and educational levels; ways for teachers and parents to respond to children's fascination with war play and war toys; the integration of children's literature into the social studies curriculum; and the teaching of prosocial skills to preschoolers and…