I read this book cover-to-cover, but it also makes a great reference guide for busy parents. The information Frost gives is mostly decades-old childcare strategies, but inexperienced and/or struggling parents and caregivers will appreciate the short, easy-to-understand steps to manage poor sleep, eating, and behavior issues in young children under 5.
Positives: All of the techniques in this book DO work if done properly, and it's a great reminder for caregivers like me who have been working with children for years but need reminders about how to manage tantrums, poor eating, etc. My favorite is the "Staying In Bed Technique" because it works so well for older children who give their parents grief with the classic "I'm cold...I need water...one more story!"
Negatives: This is a REFERENCE book and not a huge manual on every stage of childhood and every common behavior problem. If your child really struggles with sleep, for example, you'll need to buy a different book that talks ONLY about sleep for your child's age group. Also, Frost is an advocate for the "Controlled Crying Technique", which allows a child to cry for a set number of minutes at bedtime or naptime. Parents who don't want their child to cry at all need to find a different book about sleep.
Overall, this is a great book for anyone who cares for children 5 and under. And the pictures are adorable!!