Disney Books On Health Of Kids Easily Read, Understood

Parents today may have fewer kids than our folks had, but in many ways our lives are more complicated. More of us work outside the home, deal with the day care and have doctors who don’t make house calls. When our children get sick - or just grow and change on us - we’re more likely to have a medical consultation on paper (or on line) than in person. We look things up.

Disney knows this. Hence, the book they’re calling “the most complete and accessible child-care reference ever.” The two-volume guide to healthy kids is “The Disney Encyclopedia of Baby and Child Care,” by doctors Judith Palfrey, Irving Schulman, Samuel Katz and Maria I. New (Hyperion; $29.95). And while it may not be the most comprehensive book of its kind - the Mayo Clinic last year published an outstanding reference on children’s health - it’s very readable and quite good.

So move over, Dr. Spock. This Disney feature presentation has it all: expert authors (all four affiliated with prestigious university hospitals); an abundance of information; a colorful, animated look; and a chatty tone.