Parenting Books: Recent and Popular Nonfiction

Kids don’t come with instruction manuals—but these books come pretty close. Find supportive, practical reads to help you navigate a wide range of parenting topics and everyday challenges.

Looking for more? Browse our online catalog for additional parenting books, or check out MontanaLibrary2Go for eBooks and eAudiobooks.

Updated March 30, 2026
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Lewis and Clark Public Library
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The #1 Dad Book : Be the Best Dad You Can Be in 1 Hour
Patterson, James
Paper Book
Instant New York Times bestseller! "#1 gift for every new father."​ -Mel Robbins, The Mel Robbins Podcast "Hilarious and sharp...everything ​(and more) about being a dad." -Ron...
10 Rules for Raising Kids in a High-Tech World: How Parents Can Stop Smartphones, Social Media, and Gaming from Taking Over Their Children's Lives
Twenge, Jean M
Paper Book
Jean Twenge, PhD, award-winning professor of psychology and author of the "lavishly informative" (The New York Times) Generations, returns with a concrete and accessible guide to raising resilient, successful, happy children in a time of overwhelming technological intrusion.<...
The big book of pregnancy nutrition : everything expectant moms need to know for a happy, healthy nine months and beyond
Middleberg, Stephanie
Paper Book
When you found out you were pregnant, you were probably given a long list of things you were no longer 'supposed' to do. But what you really need is a practical guide to all the things you can do to feel as empowered and strong as possible. The Big Book of Pregnancy Nutrition is the comprehensive...
Caring for your baby and young child : birth to age 5
Altmann, Tanya Remer
Paper Book
Now in its seventh edition! From the American Academy of Pediatrics, the most up-to-date, expert advice for mothers, fathers, and care providers--all in one guide. All parents want to provide the very best care for their children. This essential resource from the most respected...
The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (Ages 6-12)
Ziegler Sheryl Gonzalez
Paper Book
An essential guide for parents and caregivers, this parenting guide offers insights, strategies, and understanding to navigate middle childhood (ages 6-12). Dr. Sheryl Gonzalez Ziegler, a seasoned clinical psychologist and mother, highlights ways to foster resilience, encourage open communication...
The disengaged teen : helping kids learn better, feel better, and live better
Anderson, Jenny
Paper Book
"Our education systems are shortchanging far too many teenagers. This book is brimming with insights on how to change that. It's an engaging, evidence-based, and practical read about how to develop a generation of lifelong learners."--Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of...
Does My Child Need Me to Lead or to Follow?: A Radically Simple Way to Parent Children from Infancy Through Age 6
Schwarzlmuller, Claudia
You love your child. But sometimes you just don't understand what's going on with them. Young children can't yet put their feelings into words. Instead, they show what's going on through their behavior, often in ways that are completely incomprehensible to adults. You want to do everything right,...
Dopamine kids : a science-based plan to rewire your child's brain and take back your family in the age of screens and ultraprocessed foods
Doucleff, Michaeleen
Paper Book
From the bestselling author of Hunt, Gather, Parent comes a revolutionary five-step guide--packed with practical, science-backed strategies--that shows you how to raise confident, happy kids while breaking the cycle of overdependence on screens and ultraprocessed foods. ...
Eight setbacks that can make a child a success : what to do and what to say to turn "failures" into character-building moments
Icard, Michelle
Paper Book
Turn common adolescent missteps, from relationship blunders to rebellions that backfire, into character-building moments-by the author of Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen. "This clear-eyed, practical, fun-to-read guide is an essential read for every parent."-Lisa Damour,...
Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child : Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports
Coleman, Kelley
Paper Book
The honest, relatable, actionable roadmap to the practicalities of parenting a disabled child, featuring personal stories, expert interviews, and the foundational information parents need to know about topics including diagnosis, school, doctors, insurance, financial planning, disability...
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--And What You Really Need to Know
Oster, Emily
Paper Book
What to Expect When You''re Expecting meets Freakonomics: an award-winning economist disproves standard recommendations about pregnancy to empower women while they''re expecting   Pregnancy—unquestionably one of the most pro­found, meaningful experiences of...
Fat talk : parenting in the age of diet culture
Sole-Smith, Virginia
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Book Riot best book of 2023 A Science Friday best book of 2023 An Audible best well-being audiobook of 2023 By the time they reach kindergarten, most kids believe that "fat" is bad. By middle...
How to Raise an Antiracist
Kendi, Ibram X.
Paper Book
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The book that every parent, caregiver, and teacher needs to raise the next generation of antiracist thinkers, from the author of How to Be an Antiracist and recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Grant. "Kendi's latest . . . combines...
How to talk to kids about anything : tips, scripts, stories, and steps to make even the toughest conversations easier
Silverman, Robyn J. A.
Paper Book
THE NATIONAL BESTSELLER No more freezing, fumbling, or dodging. This is the parenting communication manual you'll reach for again and again. What do you say when your child asks, "What happens when people die?" or "How does the baby get in there?" You want to be honest. You want to...
Kids Thrive at Every Size: How to Nourish Your Big, Small, or In-Between Child for a Lifetime of Health and Happiness
Castle, Jill
Paper Book
For every parent who's worried about their child's weight or size, this insightful book offers an approach to health that focuses on the whole child--not just the growth chart. All children deserve a future free of health concerns and one full of self-esteem and...
Oh Crap! Potty Training : Everything Modern Parents Need to Know to Do It Once and Do It Right
Glowacki, Jamie
Paper Book
From potty-training expert and social worker Jamie Glowacki, who's already helped over half a million families successfully toilet train their preschoolers, comes a newly revised and updated guide that's "straight-up, parent-tested, and funny to boot" (Amber Dusick, author of Parenting:...
Parent Yourself First: Raise Confident, Compassionate Kids by Becoming the Parent You Wish You'd Had
Kappadakunnel, Bryana
Paper Book
One of Library Journal's Best Books of 2025 A fresh, no-nonsense parenting guide that shows you how to become a great parent (even if you didn't have one yourself). Many of us didn't have a perfect childhood. But it's never too late (or too early!) to...
The Parent's Guide to Divorce: How to Protect Your Child's Mental and Emotional Health Through a Breakup or Separation
Komisar, Erica
Paper Book
For children, a good divorce is better than a bad marriage, but that doesn't make the split any easier. Legal decisions have emotional consequences for kids and parents alike. Synthesizing more than 30 years of clinical experience, numerous case studies, and extensive research, acclaimed...
Parenting anxious kids : understanding anxiety in children by age and stage
Galanti, Regine
Paper Book
Praised by Publishers Weekly as a "cogent manual for helping children cope with anxiety," Parenting Anxious Kids by Dr. Regine Galanti offers a lifeline: an expert-developed, parent-approved guide to raising brave, emotionally resilient kids. More children than ever are battling anxiety...
Peaceful Montessori Parenting: A Guide to Raising Capable Kids with Joy, Simplicity, and Intention for Ages 1-6; With Conscious Activities, Diys, and
Turner, Haley
Paper Book
Peaceful Montessori Parenting is an accessible introduction to Montessori play-based learning at home, including both an introduction to the principles of Montessori education with an emphasis on home-based application as well as simple, budget-friendly projects and activities for hands-on...
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide (Revised)
Simkin, Penny
Paper Book
Feel informed and empowered with this thoroughly updated, full-color pregnancy guide, which recognizes that "one size fits all" doesn't apply to maternity care. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn provides the comprehensive guidance you need...
Raising Securely Attached Kids: Using Connection-Focused Parenting to Create Confidence, Empathy, and Resilience
Harwood, Eli
Paper Book
A USA TODAY BESTSELLER *Winner of the Child Psychology Award for Literary Excellence* "A comprehensive roadmap for parents who want to raise securely attached, emotionally healthy children. A parenting must-read." --Alyssa Blask Campbell, M.Ed., author of Tiny...
The school of hard talks : how to have real conversations with your (almost grown) kids
Kline, Emily (Clinical psychologist)
Paper Book
"Think you can 'create' the perfect child? Dream on! Then stop dreaming and start reading this book. We can't control our kids' life trajectories, but we can create relationships with them that are genuine, warm, and encouraging. Here's your road map!" -Lenore Skenazy, president of...
The Simplest Potty-Training Book in the World: You Got This! the Illustrated, Grab-And-Do Guide for Stress-Free Potty Success
Gross, S. M.
Paper Book
Say hello to simplicity and potty training your child with ease and assurance thanks to The Simplest Potty Training Book in the World. This breakthrough guide is designed to take the stress and confusion out of potty training by distilling the best of the best approaches from...
Talk to your boys : 16 conversations to help tweens and teens grow into confident, caring young men
Schroeder, Joanna
Paper Book
An urgent and practical book that helps parents and their boys navigate important topics like sex, drugs, bullying, power, consent, and more in a way that helps them grow their emotional intelligence, while also building connection and a closeness that can last a lifetime. ...
Tiny humans, big emotions : how to navigate tantrums, meltdowns, and defiance to raise emotionally intelligent children
Campbell, Alyssa Blask
Paper Book
New York Times Bestseller The Future is Emotionally Intelligent From two early childhood experts, an essential guidebook that empowers parents to help their little ones navigate their big feelings--including tantrums, outbursts, and separation anxiety--while...
Your Brain on Pregnancy: A Guide to Understanding and Protecting Your Mental Health During Pregnancy and Beyond
Kingston, Dawn
Paper Book
An enlightening and practical guidebook for mothers to help them navigate mental health challenges during and after pregnancy--based on cutting-edge science by one of the world's foremost researchers of maternal mental health. For women who are expecting, pregnancy can be a time...
Your Postpartum Body: The Complete Guide to Healing After Pregnancy
Macy, Ruth E.
Paper Book
What should you expect when you're done expecting? Too many of us think that there's no way to fix everyday concerns after a pregnancy, such as pelvic floor issues, exhaustion and burnout, and getting back into a fitness routine. But it's simply not true. With this revolutionary resource...

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