Early Childhood Education : An International Encyclopedia 4 Vol Set (Indian)

Edited by New, professor of child development and director of teacher education at Tufts University, and Cochran, director of the Cornell University Early Childhood Program, this set combines a traditional encyclopedia format with another approach to organizing content. Volumes 1?3 contain alphabetical entries covering more than 300 topics such as Biculturalism, Bullying, Child abuse and neglect, Early intervention, Head Start, and No Child Left Behind Act. Other entries cover important individuals, journals, organizations, and more. Most include a list of further readings. Some of the entries run for several pages, while others are little more than definitions of terms probably available in any of a number of other sources. The unique aspect of this encyclopedia is volume 4, which looks at education from a global perspective by providing lengthy surveys of early childhood education in Australia, Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Separately authored sections within the country chapters offer information related to access of services in these countries, quality of education, curriculum, theory, teacher training, current issues and challenges, and more. It can be difficult to discern many of these factors related to education in other countries, and as such, this volume is extremely valuable. Indexing for the set is extensive; however, a short (4 pages) bibliography at the end of volume 4 seems inadequate. Libraries will have to decide if the information in volume 4 added to the entries in the other 3 volumes is worth the asking price. Recommended for academic libraries serving programs in child development and early childhood education as well as other libraries where this information will be in demand. Shonrock, Diana