Details the complex nature of children's friendships by providing thought-provoking discussions and heartwarming stories on the difference between friendship and popularity, how boys and girls deal with intimacy and commitments, and more. Reprint.

BOY OF THE PROPHECY Twelve-year-old Cory Avalon was just another kid lost in Brooklyn's childcare system. He had no idea he was born with the gift of magic until the day he stood too close to that demonic mirror in an abandoned building, and fell through the shadowy veil into the enchanted world of Abydonne. Recognized as a rare magus, Cory is quickly apprenticed to the king's royal wizard, Math the Ancient, to learn how to control his natural talents before they overwhelm him. However, Cory's power grows too quickly for even his master to contend with. In three short months, the boy learns how to hurl magical lightning, erect shields, turn invisible, and even how to fly. After Cory summons a young golden dragon for his familiar, Math confides in his brother wizard Ilmarinen, and in a shaking voice, whispers the words "archwizard" and "boy of the prophecy" Why does Master Math think Cory can defeat the evil Asmodeus in his stronghold of Abyollydd, and why is he being sent to learn from the mysterious enchanter Vainamoinen, who lives in an enchanted fortress, floating in the clouds? Based upon rich Welsh and Finnish mythology, the author weaves a complex and beautifully crafted tale which can only be called the Fifth Branch of the Mabinogion.

Answers questions about children's social problems and offers effective advice for parents on how to help youngsters deal with rejection, name-calling, bullying, cliques, and other difficult social interaction situations.

A practical child-care handbook answers important questions about children's social problems and offers effective, how-to advice for parents on how to help youngsters deal with rejection, name-calling, bullying, cliques, and other difficult social interaction situations. Reprint.

Whether it's the monster in the closet or the fear that arises from new social situations, school, or sports, anxiety can be especially challenging and maddening for children. And since anxiety has a mind of its own, logic and reassurance often fail, leaving parents increasingly frustrated about how to help. Now Lawrence J. Cohen, PhD, the author of Playful Parenting, provides a special set of tools to handle childhood anxiety. Offering simple, effective strategies that build connection through fun, play, and empathy, Dr. Cohen helps parents: start from a place of warmth, compassion, and understanding teach children the basics of the body's "security system": alert, alarm, assessment, and all clear promote tolerance of uncertainty and discomfort by finding the balance between outright avoidance and "white-knuckling" through a fear find lighthearted ways to release tension in the moment, labeling stressful emotions on a child-friendly scale tackle their own anxieties so they can stay calm when a child is distressed bring children out of their anxious thoughts and into their bodies by using relaxation, breathing, writing, drawing, and playful roughhousing With this insightful resource of easy-to-implement solutions and strategies, you and your child can experience the opposite of worry, anxiety, and fear, and embrace connection, trust, and joy.

A clinical psychologist presents an innovative, hands-on approach to using play in all facets of parenting, explaining how children use play to communicate feelings, get close to those they care about, help alleviate stressful situations, release tension, and foster emotional healing. Winner of the 2001 NAPPA Gold Award. Reprint. (view table of contents)

A clinical psychologist presents an innovative, hands-on approach to using play in all facets of parenting, explaining how children use play to communicate feelings, get close to those they care about, help alleviate stressful situations, release tension, and foster emotional healing. 15,000 first printing.