Matthews, Dona & Joanne Foster. Beyond Intelligence: Secrets for Raising Happily Productive Kids. 304p. index. notes. Anansi. 2014. pap. $19.95. ISBN 9781770894778.

Emphasizing the latest research, two experienced educators explore the many different ways that children learn and how best to encourage their intelligence, creativity, and interests to help them thrive socially and academically. Matthews and Foster cite recent studies that indicate that intelligence is an ongoing and fluid attribute and that tools for measuring intelligence can help parents and teachers recognize kids’ strengths and weaknesses; however, they stress that these are not necessarily predictors of success or happiness. The authors describe how parents and teachers can tailor educational methods to children’s individual interests and learning styles, offering checklists and sections called “our secrets.” They also advise readers on how to choose appropriate schools and handle bullying. Real life examples and personal anecdotes add interest to the academic discussion. Inspiring and informative quotes are interspersed throughout, and leading educators are referenced with valuable endnotes (though the book lacks a bibliography). A solid addition to parenting and professional collections.–Jackie Gropman, formerly at Chantilly Regional Library, VA

Owens-Reid, Dannielle & Kristin Russo. This Is a Book for Parents of Gay Kids: A Question & Answer Guide to Everyday Life. 240p. Chronicle. Oct. 2014. Tr $18.95. ISBN 9781452127538. LC 2013040465.

As the title suggests, this book is targeted at parents of children and teens who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT). The authors detail their coming out stories in the introduction, which provides readers with a clear understanding of their background and perspective. In addition to the intended audience, teens may also find this title useful for making sense of their parents’ experience. Similar books do not provide such a personal look into the stories and experiences of LGBT children and teens. The authors have provided pinpointed lists of information and easy-to-follow charts along with short summaries of chapters. The question-and-answer format is clear and the responses acknowledge that there are different options for helping both children and parents deal with the coming-out process. Readers will find important advice and information they might otherwise be reluctant to seek out. An excellent and much-needed resource.–April Sanders, Spring Hill College, Mobile, AL

Sumner, Rachel Ruth Mitchener. Recipes for Play: Creative Activities for Small Hands and Big Imaginations. 128p. index. photos. Experiment. Sept. 2014. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781615192182.

This book opens with the question “Dear Mess, Why are we not better friends?” and continues with a promise to try to embrace a more chaotic home where children are full of wonder and excited by play. Aimed at parents of preschoolers, the work strongly emphasizes sensory play, laying out 40 different activities, including recipes for slime and pavement paint, ideas for creating a miniature boat race, and instructions on building a fairy house. Although a few activities are obvious, like taking all the cushions off the couch or playing with buckets of water, most are thoughtful and clever, such as freezing small objects in water and letting children become archaeologists to excavate the treasure. The activities are organized by where they would take place: indoors, outdoors, or on the go. Each project is clearly described with information on set-up and clean-up time, mess factor (low to high), needed supplies, and a sensory guide, which discusses the senses each activity will engage. The bright, full-color photographs bring this title to life. All activities are designed with a focus on natural materials, and the authors even include information on creating natural dyes so that kids can finally create truly edible play dough.–Rachael Myers-Ricker, Horace Mann School, Bronx, NY