Research Reviews
The National Academy of Sciences publishes important syntheses of research on many topics. These reports are usually developed by a panel of experts who review research, summarize the findings (often of hundreds of studies), and develop recommendations based on those findings. The Board on Children, Youth, and Families provides a list of these reviews. Two reports that are especially relevant to the early childhood field are Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development; and Eager to Learn: Educating Our Preschoolers.
Each report may be browsed and searched on the National Academy Press Web site; the books may also be printed but very slowly; copies may also be ordered on line or are available in libraries.
Handbooks
(typically available only by purchase or in college and university libraries).
Handbooks are scholarly resources; each chapter often provides an excellent overview of research on a major topic, with extensive reference lists. Chapter authors are regarded as experts in their fields. Well-known handbooks include
Handbook of Early Childhood Development
Handbook of Early Childhood Intervention
Handbook of Early Literacy Research
Handbook of Research on the Education of Young Children
