The following parenting books are available at the Shawnee Branch of the Allen

County Public Library.

•“Growing Great Kids: Parent with God to Cultivate His Purpose in Your Child’s Life” by Kate Battistelli

The mother of Christian music recording artist Francesca Battistelli outlines her strategies for keeping God in her family. With anecdotes from others’ and her own life, she shows how her and her husband’s faith has helped and encouraged their daughter’s success as an artist and meaningful life as a Christian.

•“The Parent’s Guide to Teaching Kids with Asperger Syndrome and Similar ASDs: Real Life Skills for Independence” by Patricia Romanowski Bashe

The author explains how parents can help their children with autism spectrum disorders learn at various stages of development.

•“Dr. Spock’s Baby and Child Care – 65th Anniversary Edition” by Dr. Benjamin Spock

More than 1,000 pages of thoughtful, sympathetic advice for parents of children from birth through choosing a college. A good index makes this a very useful book.

•“How do Eskimos Keep Their Babies Warm: and Other Adventures in Parenting (from Argentina to Tanzania and Everywhere in Between)” by Mei-Ling Hopgood

Globe-trotting parents share tips from all over the world, from how to carry a baby where strollers aren’t used to cultivating an adventurous eater.

•“The Baby Names Almanac: 2012 The Most Up-to-date Resource for Baby Names” and “The Best Baby Names Treasury: The Most Popular Names and Creative Alternatives” by Emily Larson

Check out how names are trending before picking that oh-so-important name or how the names of progeny are faring. Or just enjoy perusing the odd and unusual.