Helping the Thumb-Sucking Child (1999). By Rosemarie A. Van Norman. Avery Publishing Group, 120 Old Broadway, Garden City Park, NY 11040. $9.95. Reviewed by Janet B. Fudala, Kingston, WA.

This book presents background information regarding the reasons children suck their thumbs, suggestions for parents to help their children stop sucking their thumbs, and specific items to assist in stopping thumb--sucking.

In the nine chapters, the author includes four chapters presenting causes of thumb-sucking, results of prolonged thumb-sucking, and other habits associated with thumb-sucking. The other five chapters are devoted to preventing, evaluating, and eliminating both daytime and nighttime thumb-sucking habits.

Van Norman shares her extensive experience regarding the prevention and treatment of thumb-sucking with parents and professionals alike with a down to earth, straight-forward program to understand children's need to suck their thumbs. She begins her book by explaining why children suck their thumbs and why parents' methods may fail. She continues with a clear explanation of how thumb-sucking can damage self-esteem and the roles of the various persons with whom the child has relationships in the thumb-sucking process.

Her chapter on dental and speech development contains much information for speech-language pathologists (SLPs), but she also discusses how parents can explain possible problems to their children, which is a valuable adjunct to any work the SLP may be doing.

Most of the rest of the book presents programs for preventing and eliminating thumb-sucking. Step-by-step processes are provided, along with charts and specific suggestions for every step of reducing and eliminating thumb-sucking.

This small book is easy reading, but is packed with useful information. Persons concerned about this problem will find much of value in this book.