Rating: 
Summary: A must-have resource for parents of infants and toddlers!
Review: I am a school psychologist who works with children from preschool through grade three. I have been searching for a resource to recommend to parents of young children in need of early language exposure and enhancement. I found this parent-friendly book to be a well-written and comprehensive guide full of useful and practical ways to develop children's language acquisition skills.
Rating:
Summary: this book is a must for educators and parents
Review: I am an Educational Specialist with a Doctorate Degree in Early and Middle Childhood Education. This book should be required reading for speech and language specialists, special education teachers, parents, and all those interested in helping children reach their language potential.
Rating:
Summary: Very Valuable Information - Not obvious
Review: I am surprised how many people rave about this book. Most of what it said seemed, at least to me, extemely obvious. Things like talking to your baby from birth, paying attention to them when they try to speak, encouraging them seemed rather obvious. Others are impressed that you cannot learn to speak from watching TV. Baby Minds was a far more interesting book that gives more incite into communicating with baby and his or her development. Consider reading that instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Short and obvious
Review: I am surprised how many people rave about this book. Most of what it said seemed, at least to me, extemely obvious. Things like talking to your baby from birth, paying attention to them when they try to speak, encouraging them seemed rather obvious. Others are impressed that you cannot learn to speak from watching TV. Baby Minds was a far more interesting book that gives more incite into communicating with baby and his or her development. Consider reading that instead.
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Language Advice
Review: I bought this book BECAUSE of the five-star reviews in Amazon. It was a terrible mistake to believe in what was written. This book is extremely superficial. I read the whole book but noticed that it was phony by page 4. Before buying, read the excerpt of Chapter 1 for yourself. See if there is anything useful there.
And don't be disappointed if you think this book is about talking to your "baby". Most of the examples and pictures show a parent talking to a big toddler: "Please get me two boxes of pasta" (showing a boy in a supermarket helping his dad); "look under the table" (showing a girl who misplaced her teddy bear); "we play baseball with a hat and a ball" (showing a big boy holding a bat) and so on.
[...] The author actually says that the parent should imitate the infant's babbling sounds. It is at least debatable that this confuses more than helps the baby. If you are close to a library, read pages 45 to 50 to get some ideas about what to say at a supermarket. That part is useful. Another good source is pages 160-161 of What to Expect the First Year. Otherwise, just talk to your baby without reading this book.
I am sorry for the long and detailed (and apparently aggressive) message, but I felt that I should explain why one should be suspicious of the five stars rating this book has received.
Rating:
Summary: Informative and extremely helpful to new parents
Review: I found many helpful ideas. I recommend this book to all parents who wish to help their children develop their language and learning skills. I think this will help my child be a better reader.
Rating:
Summary: Great Source for Parents
Review: I have been a speech-language pathologist for many years and am always seeking ways to emphasize to parents how very important it is to talk and read with their children, no matter how young or how old. This book goes beyond that,offering specific suggestions to parents as to how to create a language rich environment, yet allowing for creativity on the part of the caregiver.It is easy to read and well organized. I will certainly be recommending it to parents as well as others working with early childhood populations. Judy Almy
Rating:
Summary: How to Talk to Your Baby
Review: I refer to this book often for ideas when speaking with my little guys. It is an easy read and a great reference tool. I keep it handy!
Rating:
Summary: How to Talk to Your Baby
Review: I refer to this book often for ideas when speaking with my little guys. It is an easy read and a great reference tool. I keep it handy!
Rating:
Summary: Timeless Language Advice
Review: Ms. Dougherty presents a timeless approach to language development in a natural way that every parent and educator can clearly understand. Too often educators try to speak in educational jargon, missing the opportunity to convey precious, but simple developmental information and techniques to busy parents. Ms. Dougherty's approach is down to earth and reflective of her many years of experience and research. Her work is a breath of fresh air in a world filled with medical and technical terminology. If, indeed these methods are so obvious, how is it that we have so many language-impaired preschoolers and kindergarten children entering school today with resulting learning and language disorders? What may seem to some to be obvious, needed to be put down on paper, so that all may benefit from this proven system of developing language. (Dr.E)
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