The first edition of Positive Discipline A-Z became a classic child-rearing text that helped change the way parents and experts feel about discipline. In this revised and expanded version, child psychologist Jane Nelson (coauthor of the entire Positive Discipline series) teams up with speaker and therapist Lynn Lott and H. Stephen Glenn (Raising Self-Reliant Children). Positive Discipline is based on the theories of child development expert Rudolf Dreikurs, and uses communication, consistency, and specific techniques (such as the four-step follow-through method, taking time for training, giving age-appropriate chores to teach responsibility, and using positive time-outs in which the child takes some time with a calming activity) to help children develop the life skills they need to be "effective, happy, contributing, and respectful members of the family and society." The first part of the text provides an introduction to the concept of positive discipline and its tools. The second part of the book is an alphabetical breakdown of more than 100 child-rearing topics, from addiction to zits--including cruelty to animals, fairness, laundry, negative children, pampering, self-esteem, tattling, whining, and much more. Here, the authors move from general theory to specific suggestions and approaches for hard-core parenting issues. Whether read for theory or read for specificity, this book is terrific--and important. --Ericka Lutz