Susan Engel teaches developmental psychology at Williams College, where she is the founding director of the Program in Teaching. She is the author of eight books, including The Hungry Mind. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, The Nation, Salon, and The Atlantic.
Who knows what problems our children will need to tackle, but we adults can help them along by asking questions and unlocking possibilities from their earliest days. Susan Engel's enchanting mix of academic studies and astute observations of children figuring out how their world works makes for an engrossing, illuminating read. Any parent, teacher, or museum designer - anyone who loves watching children question, explore, and wonder - will want to read this guide to stoking children's 'intellectual fires.'--Ann Friedman, Founder, Planet Word Weaving together personal observations and experiences, findings from psychological experiments, and powerful organizing concepts, Susan Engel has written a remarkable book. Whether you are an educator, parent, or simply a curious reader, you will come to see, hear, and understand children in new ways.--Howard Gardner, author of Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences A fascinating read for parents who wonder, simply, what is my child thinking? Why do they love collecting? Where did that idea come from? And a celebration of children's innovation and sense of wonder.--Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better