Unsmiling Faces

The first edition of this indispensable book set the standard for high-quality intervention and prevention programs in early childhood practice. Since its publication, many new forces have impacted the landscape of early childhood education, presenting both great opportunities and great risks for today’s emotionally fragile young children. Once again making complex psychological concepts accessible to classroom teachers, this thorough revision:

• Incorporates important understandings gained since the tragic events of 9/11.
• Addresses many of the challenging issues that confront educators in the current high-pressure climate focused on academic performance.
• Includes recent scientific research that supports the concepts underlying high-quality intervention and prevention in early childhood practice—concepts that were the basis for the first edition of this book.
• Provides an essential framework to help teachers understand the emotional lives of the young children they serve.

Praise for First Edition!

"As a teacher educator, I am convinced by this powerful and moving book that every teacher needs to be more therapeutic with all children." Nancy J. Zollers, Boston College for the Disability Studies Quarterly

Lesley Koplow, M.S., C.S.W. is a psychotherapist, the Director of the Center for Emotionally Responsive Practice at Bank Street College, and the author of numerous books on child mental health, including Creating Schools That Heal: Real-Life Solutions.

“A compelling argument for reframing our educational philosophy by putting children’s emotional health first…Our psychic and cultural survival as a healthy and strong society may depend on educators making good use of Koplow’s work."”

– Childhood Education (from first edition)

“By now, we must all realize that when we acknowledge and learn to deal with children’s emotional needs in the classroom we directly influence their social and cognitive development. Readers will find ample evidence of these connections as the lives of the children in this book unfold.”
— From the Foreword by Vivian Gussin Paley

“This updated edition includes empirical information on the potentially devastating results of trauma and loss on children and communities from more recent tragic events, namely 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. It is a must-read for all teachers, social workers, parents and other caregivers.”
— Fern Khan, Dean of the School of Continuing Education, Bank Street College