The adventures in parenthood of Darryl and Wanda MacPherson continue, with their depictions of the chaos and absurd humor that goes hand in hand with raising children.

Accompanied by a DVD of an HBO documentary entitled: Smashed--toxic tales of teens and alcohol.

Alcohol use by young people is extremely dangerous - both to themselves and society at large. Underage alcohol use is associated with traffic fatalities, violence, unsafe sex, suicide, educational failure, and other problem behaviors that diminish the prospects of future success, as well as health risks â€" and the earlier teens start drinking, the greater the danger. Despite these serious concerns, the media continues to make drinking look attractive to youth, and it remains possible and even easy for teenagers to get access to alcohol. Why is this dangerous behavior so pervasive? What can be done to prevent it? What will work and who is responsible for making sure it happens? Reducing Underage Drinking addresses these questions and proposes a new way to combat underage alcohol use. It explores the ways in which may different individuals and groups contribute to the problem and how they can be enlisted to prevent it. Reducing Underage Drinking will serve as both a game plan and a call to arms for anyone with an investment in youth health and safety.

Child neglect is the most common type of child maltreatment. Substantial evidence indicates that the morbidity and mortality associated with neglect are significant, with enormous costs to the children involved and to society. Yet there is no major text focused exclusively on child neglect. Neglected Children presents a comprehensive and critical portrait of the phenomenon of neglect, based on theory, research and clinical practice experience. The editor and the contributing authors present a rich, interdisciplinary conceptualization with a broad view of neglect, moving far beyond the current child welfare focus on parental omissions in care. This broader view is essential to seriously addressing the complex and pervasive underpinnings of neglect.

Children: Hostages of the State is based upon thirty-four years of working with children both inside and outside the non-juvenile system in several states. Including an inside look at foster care, adoptions, and out-of-home placement of children, it shows a pattern of a county, state, and local government control of children-a system that seems to be out of control, operating outside constitutional law. This message speaks to every parent with a child in foster care or in county, city, state, or government custody. The removals of many children from their homes are in violation of the constitutional and civil rights of both the children and parents. Civil rights violations carry a mandatory investigation. Author William D. Andrews lists a few of the most often violated areas he has seen, pointing to the adoption practice, which often appears to be open fraud. The adopting families, social workers, and judges often appear to be in a tailor-made adoption partnership. Andrews vows that the practice of removing children from homes without proper application of the law will be stopped. The total rejection of both child and parental rights granted by the US Constitution is a tragedy.

This booklet contains a short summary of what scientific research says about how children learn to read and write. It also discusses things you can do with your child at three different grade levels -- kindergarten, first grade, and second and third grades. These activities will help the child become a reader. In addition, this booklet contains a list of helpful terms and ideas for books to read and organizations to contact if you would like more help or information. (AMT).