This unique book is an accessible, "child-centered" introduction to child growth and development. It presents the most up-to-date information in descriptive terms to inform readers about how children look, sound, and behave. Practical and research-based, without being research-oriented, it looks at children over small time periods to reveal patterns of growth and development -- the differentiation and integration that make each age interesting. the text strives to convey a sympathetic understanding of children that parents and teachers can use in their interactions with young people. This "non-textbook" book is a practical, "user- friendly" resource.