"My life has been one big audition."

This is the first line of Elizabeth Eulberg's latest young adult novel, Take a Bow [Scholastic, April 1, 2012]. Take a Bow follows four young performers--two songwriters, one singer, and an actor--through their senior year at the fictional New York City...

Children often join the family business, and these days kids end up following in their parents' footsteps in variety of fields. Mitt Romney followed his father into politics. Ivanka and Don Jr. joined the Trump family business, appearing in the latest incarnation of Celebrity Apprentice. Superbowl MVP Eli Manning followed...

The arrest of Jerry Sandusky, a former college football coach and community volunteer who worked with children, on forty counts of child molestation of young boys has shocked and frightened many parents. As well it should.

At the end of every weekday millions of kids dash out of...

It's no wonder that young adult readers are fascinated by the world of competitive ballet. Even if they aren't dancers themselves, teens are drawn in by the all-consuming dance world (made more intriguing by the general absence of parents) and the focus on romance as male and female bodies intertwine....

He was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list for twelve years. But Whitey Bulger was ultimately brought down by Miss Congeniality.

No, not Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock's eponymous female FBI character in the 2000 film), but Anna Bjornsdottir.

According to The Boston Globe, which broke...

You've seen the four-year-old dressed up as Dolly Parton (complete with "enhancements"), right? And, of course, you've seen the images of the three-year-old dressed up as Julia Roberts' prostitute character from Pretty Woman, haven't you?

Judging by the ratings for TLC's fourth season of Toddlers...

It was a hot Monday morning in July and he was dribbling a soccer ball when it happened. Twelve-year-old Joshua Thibodeau was at a soccer camp last month when he suddenly collapsed. Within 45 minutes, he was dead.

By all accounts Joshua Thibodeau's death was a tragic accident. Yes, it...

The tension has been building for months -- the online protests started in April, and then there were the rallies in May. Not to mention the Facebook threats and numerous complaints to public officials. Despite all the brouhaha, an "American-style" child beauty pageant sponsored by Texas-based...

The Australian press and public have reacted strongly to plans to hold an "American-style" child beauty pageant in Australia this summer. Since I wrote a summary and a response to the "Australians Against Child Beauty Pageants" situation, the media attention has increased. Last weekend numerous

Looking for advice on how to raise a successful daughter? Recent bestsellers offer conflicting advice. In Cinderella Ate My Daughter, Peggy Orenstein trumpets Girl Power over pink princesses if you want a smart, independent woman. But Kay Hymowitz writes in Manning Up that you should poo-poo this New Girl Order...

Last week women around the world observed the 100th celebration of International Women's Day. We honored female trailblazers and leaders.

One woman not discussed was Jean Bartel, Miss America 1943, who passed away two days before International Women's Day. Some of you may think that...

How much is a victory worth if you didn't win?

Last Thursday Cassy Herkelman had to confront this question as she became the first female to "win" a match in Iowa's state wrestling tournament for high school students. Her opponent, Joel Northrup, a favorite in the 112-pound weight class, defaulted...

Last week the Federation Internationale de Gymastique (FIG) banned North Korea for two years due to age violations. Just two weeks ago the FIG was giving out accolades instead, crowning the new world kings and queens of artistic gymnastics in Rotterdam. The top-four finishers in the women's team...

The New York Department of Education just released testing information for fall 2011 entry into their Gifted and Talented classrooms. In a few weeks student paperwork must be submitted so that testing can begin in the new year. By June parents will know whether or not their child...

Tongues have wagged and hands have been wrung since the tragic death of thirteen-year-old Peter Lenz this past Sunday. Peter was killed at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway during a practice session for a motorcycle competition organized by the United States Grand Prix Racers Union. He died after falling from his...