How to Grow a Child: A Child's Advice to Parents

This new edition of a modest book by six young inner-city students 30 years ago under the tutelage of Percy, an educator, author and lecturer who was then their teacher, expresses the philosophy that children should be respected and valued. Heartwarming and poignant, the book includes a number of entries that reveal the students' yearning to be understood and treated with kindness. Ann Arthur, who first approached Percy with her writing when she was 10 years old, contributes an introductory essay from her current perspective as a parent and pediatric ophthalmologist. Born to West Indian immigrants struggling to raise seven children, Arthur explains how she was inspired and motivated by Percy's encouragement and trust; she also makes some astute observations about parenthood. Even as children, these writers knew that parenting requires a great amount of responsibility, love and patience. This slender edition, accompanied by b&w photos, breathes new life into their poetry and prose. Included are survey questions created by Percy that readers can use to help evaluate and enrich their relationships with their children. (May)