Mares, Newman, Warren, and Cornish ͑2005͒ began Clinical Skills in Infant Mental Health with quotes familiar to many infant mental health clinicians: "There is no such thing as a baby…if you set out to describe a baby, you will find you are describing a baby and someone. A baby cannot exist alone, but is essentially part of a relationship" ͑Winnicott, 1978, p. 88͒ and "Sympathy and shared pleasure in the trials and risks of experience are companions to adventure in meaning. The infant hero can suffer shame if submitted to the dull gaze and tuneless voice of indifference, even if kept warm and well fed" ͑Trevarthen, 2001, p. 119͒. These quotes are hallmarks of infant mental health and as an introduction to this book set the stage for its comprehensive and concise description of the basic concepts related to infant mental health.
The first things that I appreciated as a reader about Clinical Skills in Infant Mental Health were its style and organization. The language was clear and easy to understand for practitioners of all levels. Experienced professionals will find an easy read without being bored and students will not be overwhelmed with new language. The broad format used was to divide the work into parts: clinical framework, the early infant-parent relationship, the toddler period, parents, and society. Chapters addressing the overall subject of each part made up the next level of organization. Each chapter began with bulleted lists of key concepts and basic principles related to each chapter topic. Headings and subheadings were logical and orderly with tables and further bulleted information supporting the body of information. Vignettes were used liberally throughout the text to provide explanation and example. The end of each chapter offered a list of additional reading possibilities related to the topics found in the chapter, and the end of the book provided a glossary and references according to chapter.
The organization of the information was straightforward and concise. Part A discussed infant mental health as a field of practice, defining infant mental health and giving particular attention to issues of attachment and assessment. Part B focused on the early infant-caregiver/ parent relationship, discussing pregnancy, labor, birth, and biomedical problems which may be faced in infancy. Separate chapters were devoted to issues of sleeping and eating. Part C provided a comprehensive discussion of issues of toddlerhood, including behavioral and emotional difficulties, trauma, and gender development and identity. The final section, Part D, addressed issues of parents: mental illness, abuse as children, personality disorder, substance abuse, adolescent parenthood, and multiple adversities.
Mares, Newman, Warren, and Cornish defined infant mental health as "a multidisciplinary field of research and clinical practice…concerned with understanding those factors that allow and facilitate optimal development and with developing the range of interventions