Myrtle the Turtle Discovers Hug Power by Jan Di Santo. Relays the message that we all experience shame and healing occurs in loving connected relationships.
Becoming Attached by Robert Karen explains how first relationships shape how we love.
When Partners Become Parents by Carolyn Pape Cowan & Philip A. Cowan
This ten-year longitudinal study of the effects of parenthood on romantic partnership is wildly affirming (it’s not just you). This book captures the ups and downs (mostly downs) of relationships during the crisis of new parenthood.
123 Magic:3 Step Discipline for Calm Effective and Happy Parenting Addressing the task of disciplining children ages 2 through 12 without arguing, yelling, or spanking, this program offers easy-to-follow steps to immediately manage troublesome behavior with reason, patience, and compassion.
The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson For the skeptic parent who is unmoved by anecdote (fine). This book features a similar approach of acceptance but makes use of basic neuroscience to back itself up — knowing what parts of the brain are activated mid-tantrum, for example, might change how we confront one.
Queenbees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman Wiseman takes the challenges and power dynamics and high-stakes anxieties of Girl World seriously. It’s clear she has keen empathy for and insight into not just the drama and the gunning for social status, but the bigger picture, too: questions of intimacy, self-worth, and trust.
How to Hug a Porcupine by Julie A. Ross For parents whose kids aren’t yet mean girls: This book is full of sympathy and brimming with tips and eases you in with an adorable cartoon porcupine.
