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As the title implies, this volume is intended as a thorough, practical guide to help avoid maladjustments, to handle problems when they occur, and to direct the parent, teacher, or counselor to the balanced adjustment and development of the normal child. A vast number of subjects is discussed, but the manner in which the book is planned makes it of necessity repetitious. The first section covers the life of the child from the first year to adolescence; the second, toilet training, masturbation, discipline, and entertainment; the third section is a thumb-nail outline of psychoanalytic psychology of children; the fourth considers such topics as a good school, toys, books, music, and camping. The appendix includes a comprehensive list of movies made for the purpose of parent education and an extensive bibliography. When one realizes that this ambitious program is contained in three hundred and ten pages, one can readily understand that the majority of topics are treated superficially. To do justice to the scope of the subject it would be necessary to compile an encyclopedia. In fact, this book does not compare favorably with the recently published Encyclopedia of Child Care and Guidance.1
In the reviewer's opinion, the manner of discussion of the emotional problems of children is not well-considered. The case material in some instances will shock parents, while the use of psychoanalytic terminology, even though explained, is apt to be more confusing than helpful. Terms such as Oedipal conflict, superego, and latency period are defined, but their interrelationship is not made clear. In omitting the dynamics, a real understanding of children's conflicts is precluded. A further grave error occurs in