David F. Lancy is Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at Utah State University. Recent publications include Child Helpers (2020) and Raising Children (2017).

Preface; 1. Where do children come from?; 2. The value of children; 3. To make a child; 4. It takes a village; 5. Making sense; 6. Of marbles and morals; 7. The chore curriculum; 8. Living in limbo; 9. Taming the autonomous learner; 10. Elastic childhood; References; Author index; Topic index; Society index.

Enriched with findings from anthropological scholarship, this book provides a guide to childhood in different cultures, past and present.