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Smutny, JR (1998). The young gifted child: Potential and promise, an anthology. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Press, Inc. (582 pp. $35.00, paperback, ISBN 1-57273-108-7).
'he editor of this collection, Dr. Joan F. Smutny, senses an urgent need for early intervention in the lives of young gifted children. She intends this volume to provide"a framework of understanding" for readers who "cherish [young gifted children] as students, patients, friends, sons, and daughters." The book's 48 experts in advocacy for talented young children fill this framework with 41 chapters as they address five aspects of intervention: identification, special populations, parenting, meeting social and emotional needs, and creating effective educational experiences. Thus, as an anthology, this collection of individual, professional narratives of recommended practices represents the scope of educational literature related to gifted young children. It allows readers to select chapters of greatest interest to them.
Some authors articulate the two major themes that characterize the volume more clearly than others. These themes are: 1) the necessity for teachers to learn how to recognize talent emerging in young children (e.g., Kingore's chapter), and 2) the necessity for teachers to be able to design and implement rich, practical, sensitive educational interventions (e.g., the Kitano & Perez, Shaklee, and Hanninen chapters). As Smutny indicates "early identification... is essential to... perceiving and meeting their needs" (p. 5), giving poignant emphasis to the...