Books for parents

Mindfulness is the buzz word now and colouring-in, once the territory of small children, has become a popular way to live in the moment. Author Lesley Lodge combines her love for horses with a mind relaxing activity in Coloring Book of Horses: Stress Reducing Art Therapy. You can also win a copy.

Jon Gordon, author of The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy, gives his five top tips to develop positive children.

Looking for ways to engage your children by the sea? Take The Beach Book by Fiona Danks and Jo Schofield for inspiration, writes Anne Coates.

Making children's clothes has just become a whole lot more interesting with Sew Japanese by Mariko Nakamura, writes Anne Coates.

Burnout to Brilliance, subtitled Strategies for Sustainable Success is an excellent self-help book by Jayne Morris, writes Anne Coates.

Published by Frances Lincoln Limited, 100 Family Adventures written by Tim and Kerry Meek (with the help of their children Amy and Ella)is a great book for inspiring families to try something new and be a bit more adventurous. Review by Anne Coates.

First published in 2002, A Parent’s Guide to High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder by child psychologists and autism experts Sally Ozonoff, Geraldine Dawson and James C. McPartland have fully revised and updated their bestselling tome to reflect the new changes in diagnosis, as well as all the latest research and newly developed interventions. Ian Robinson, a parent of a child with high-functioning autism, recommends the book.

In Hook, Line & Singer, Cerys Matthews presents 125 songs to sing out loud – perfect for family singalongs whatever the occasion.

Illustrated by Gillian Johnson, and written by Josie Lloyd & Emlyn Rees, The Very Hungover Caterpillar is a parody of that well-known children's book by Eric Carle. Anne Coates is a fan.

Subtitled "The Secrets of stress-free parenting",  Dr Laura Markham's Calm Parents, Happy Kids offers a three-step approach to create a peaceful environment at home. Anne Coates assesses the book.

Anne Coates reviews The Lost Sock by Gillan Johnson and published by Constable.

Published by Vermillion and subtitled "Everything you need to know about spoon-feeding and baby-led weaning", Sara Patience's book, Easy Weaning is a comprehensive guide for parents, writes Anne Coates.

From the new house of oort publications comes Filthy Creatures: things my mother never told me by David Williams, a collection of 17 poems casting a humorous perspective on members of the animal kingdom. Anne Coates reviews.

Confessions of the World's Best Father will make anyone smile (if not succumb to raucous belly-laughing). Publication of Dave Engledow's book of photographs and commentary is perfectly timed for Father's Day but will make a great gift for any new or soon-to-be dad, writes Anne Coates.

Little London – Child-friendly Days Out And Fun Things To Do by Kate Hodges and Sunshine Jacksonin is a comprehensive guide to activities in the captial including over 200 free and affordable ideas. Anne Coates takes a wander through the pages.

In the final part in our series of articles by Liisa Henrickson-Macaulay, founder of the early music education programme Moosicology and author of bestselling parenting title The Music Miracle: The Scientific Secret to Unlocking Your Child's Full Potential gives her last two tips on how to engage with your child through music.: playing "Conductor Says" and remembering your child is born musical.

Subtitled What stops smart people achieving more and how you can change, Robert Kelsey's Get Things Done may be just what you need to kick-start a more productive you, and the principals within the book can be applied to how you organise family life and help your children reach their own portential, writes Anne Coates.

Liisa Henriksson-Macaulay, founder of the early music education programme Moosicology and author of bestselling parenting title The Music Miracle: The Scientific Secret to Unlocking Your Child's Full Potential gives her top ten tips on how to engage with your child through music. Here are tips seven and eight: Catch the higher bird and Musical moods.