Rating: 
Summary: A WINNER
Review: I gave this book to my sister-in-law (a first-time mom to a 6-mth old, in Minneapolis) for her birthday, and it seems to be a hit. She wrote me: "The book is awesome! I'm reading it while 'pumping' at work (20 minutes twice per workday) and it's just been fascinating -- thank you SO much!" I was a little worried that it might be too academic for her taste. But the authors seem to have hit the mark. Not to be missed!
Rating:
Summary: A subtle, deep, yet entertaining book
Review: I read this book for a book group and began without much interest. I was caught. This is a beautifully crafted piece of writing. Some of the reviewers seem to be treating it as though it were a manual or reference book for young parents. Rather it is an examination of the status of research into the development of the mind -- research at the trickiest and most preconception-filled level, at the level of the youngest brains -- written for anyone interested in how we learn to perceive and make sense of the world around us. The presentation is enlivened by the authors' own observations. Is there a more accessible analysis and ultimate rejection of the whole nature vs. nurture controversy? A wise and wonderful book I have recommended to friends, and I've been thanked for recommending it. Incidentally, I've recommended it to friends who do not have young children, the hardest to interest in books about young children! The science is formidable when you pause to think about it, yet this remains a humane and accessible book.
Rating:
Summary: The best book on babies I've read! I really loved it.
Review: I'm a mother of six children and thought that I didn't need any more baby books. Then a friend showed me this book and I couldn't put it down. It was the best one I ever read! As a parent, I could see my own children in the book's descriptions. And I laughed at the amusing stories and writing. It's really a terrific way of learning about what your child understands about people, about things, how they learn language, and how experience, including how we parents treat them, affects their brain growth. What a great read, written by these parent-scientists.
Rating:
Summary: Not a How-To Guide to Parenting, and a Better Book For It
Review: If you want practical advice on child-rearing, check out Penelope Leach or Dr. Mom. But if you're interested in reading about the latest research in the mental development of infants, this book is absolutely wonderful. It's full of surprising information about how observant and analytical babies are(at less than an hour old, they mimic faces), and gives details about the structure of the experiments used to deduce such information, allowing you to decide for yourself how much weight to give it. Much of the information confirms those of us who have always suspected two day old kids are as intelligent and tuned-in as, say, the typical graduate student -- they just have fewer ways to express it, and less experience to build on. Better yet, the book is written in a thoroughly engaging and often humorous style that possibly owes something to the first named author's brother, the New Yorker writer Adam (or, more likely, both Gopniks inherited the same literary genes). But don't expect pointers on burping technique.
Rating: 
Summary: Hard to find the content.
Review: It seems as though the authors are more interested in name dropping and patting themselves on the back than making the book readable. I found all the outside references distracting and probably unnecessary. Once I was able to get beyond the pandering fluff I found the data interesting and in many cases helpful but it just seemed as though the writers were paying homage to too many outsiders and not enough attention to those of us who bought the book.
Rating:
Summary: Some good stuff, too much fuss
Review: The book contains some interesting information, relevant to the title. Unfortunately it is very very repetitive. I found myself saying "I can't believe it is telling this again" many times. Having said that, there are some good parts in chapter 2 and 3 that are worth reading. The introduction and chapter 4-7 are a complete waste of paper, as the 50-page-long notes and reference (who reads them nowadays? put them up on a web site if someone wants to dig deeper). I would have preferred paying the same price for a 60-page-book with the same content, but I guess the markets impose some rules in order to be able to sell...
Rating:
Summary: Some good stuff, too much fuss
Review: The book contains some interesting information, relevant to the title. Unfortunately it is very very repetitive. I found myself saying "I can't believe it is telling this again" many times. Having said that, there are some good parts in chapter 2 and 3 that are worth reading. The introduction and chapter 4-7 are a complete waste of paper, as the 50-page-long notes and reference (who reads them nowadays? put them up on a web site if someone wants to dig deeper). I would have preferred paying the same price for a 60-page-book with the same content, but I guess the markets impose some rules in order to be able to sell...
Rating:
Summary: More than child development
Review: The scientist in the crib helps us understand in a new way, not only young babies, but ourselves, who are still trying to understand how the world operates. It helps me enjoy my grandchildren's daily explorations with greater appreciation of their "seriousness." Very well written and humorous as well.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting read, good information
Review: This book explains current ideas about infants and how and when they learn. It is a well organized with interesting ancedotes and humorous comments sprinkled throughout. Except for the last chapter, which gets rather philosophical, it was a page turner. I still remember their examples (of the first word 'uh-oh' and failure, or of kids confronting a candy box full of pencils). The book strives not to be the standard parenting text which is refreshing. Still, I would have preferred a summary chart of the basic developmental thresholds and the associated ages for those skills. As a young mother of a one year old, I bought this book along with several others on toddler development. It stands out because it is not a 'how-to' parenting book. The authors leave it to the reader to decide how to act on the information. Also, the book describes in some depth how conclusions were arrived at. As a scientist myself I appreciated this, but found their arguments about the similarities between babies and scientists somewhat trite. All in all, one of my top recommendations for parents. There is great information in an unusual, neutral format.
Rating: 
Summary: Hooray! A book on child development that's not annoying!
Review: This book presents the latest research concerning child development, but does so in an accessible and friendly way. This is not a how-to book, rather containing information about how children learn and develop over time. Chapters include: What Children Learn About People; What Children Learn About Things; What Children Learn About Language; What Scientists Have Learned About Children's Minds; What Scientists Have Learned About Children's Brains. To a small extent the book suffers from the usual dilutory effects of having multiple authors. They also try to be a bit too cute sometimes, but this does not overly detract from the book's success as a layman-friendly introduction to child development research. There is a very useful Notes section, References, and a good Index. My advice, for all it's worth: If you are going to get one book about child development research, get Lise Eliot's 'What's Going On In There?', which is less precious, more extensive, and better organized. If you are going to get two books, add this to your list. I find myself referring back to the former book fairly often, but I do browse through this one occasionally as well.
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