For library professionals, early childhood teachers, day care staff and parents concerned with the development of early childhood programmes, Ellin Greene provides a book based on her considerable experience in the field. As Project Director and Consultant to the New York Public Library's early childhood project, she designed a graduate course to prepare librarians to work effectively with infants and toddlers and their parents/caregivers. "Books, Babies, and Libraries" was born of the topics addressed in that course. The text features discussions on the library's role in early learning and in parent education, the theoretical concepts of child development and learning, emergent literacy, recommended book and nonprint collections, and the implementation of effective programmes. Greene also shares current bibliographies, a discography, and suitable toys, as well as charts and programme ideas that make this work a practical as well as educational tool. Appendices include reprints of pertinent professional articles and tools helpful in programme planning. This book aims to make a significant contribution in serving the interests and needs of the youngest library users.