A new entry for the growing topically-organized segment of this market, Child Development: A Topical Approach presents pivotal research and theories in a more readable, accessible style than books currently available. This first edition teams Diane Papalias teaching and writing expertise with Ruth Feldmans professional writing, and it introduces Dana Gross – a child development researcher and professor at St. Olafs College in Minnesota. Applauded by reviewers for its combination of research coverage with applications and real-life examples, this new text also includes Papalias hallmark of superior coverage of cross-cultural and social policy topics, and a new emphasis on the history of child psychology.

As a professor, Diane E. Papalia has taught thousands of undergraduates at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received her bachelors degree, majoring in psychology, from Vassar College and both her masters degree in child development and family relations and her Ph.D. in life-span developmental psychology from West Virginia University. She has published numerous articles in such professional journals as Human Development, International Journal of Aging and Human Development, Sex Roles, Journal of Experimental Child Psychology and Journal of Gerontology. Most of these papers have dealt with her major research focus, cognitive development from childhood through old age.Dana Gross, chief consultant to this edition, received her Ph.D. in child psychology from the Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota. Since 1988 she has been at St. Olaf College, where she is an associate professor of psychology, Director of Linguistic Studies, and an affiliate faculty member of the Asian Studies department. Her broad teaching and research interests include perception, language, cognition, and social cognition, as well as cross-cultural child development. She has published in several professional journals, has presented her work at numerous conferences, and coauthored a chapter in Developing Theories of Mind, edited by Astington, Harris, and Olson. Dr. Gross has prepared instructors manuals and test banks for several McGraw-Hill textbooks and served as chief consultant on Papalia, Olds, and Feldmans A Childs World.Ruth Duskin Feldman is an award-winning writer and educator. With Diane E. Papalia and Sally Wendkos Olds, she coauthored the fourth and seventh editions of Human Development and the eighth edition of A Child's World. She also is coauthor, with Dr. Papalia and Cameron J. Camp, of Adult Development and Aging. A former teacher, she has developed educational materials for all levels from elementary school through college and has prepared ancillaries to accompany the Papalia-Olds books. She is author or coauthor of four books addressed to general readers, including Whatever Happened to the Quiz Kids? Perils and Profits of Growing Up Gifted. She has written for numerous newspapers and magazines and has lectured extensively and made national and local media appearances throughout the United States on education and gifted children. She received her bachelor's degree from Northwestern University, where she was graduated with highest distinction and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.