In the topically organized Children in Context, award-winning author Tara L. Kuther emphasizes three core themes of child development: the importance of context, the relevance of research, and the applied value of developmental science. Examining child development by using real-life contexts, including gender, race and ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, the text engages students with current data, relatable examples, and cross-cultural stories. Students will come away with an understanding of these themes that they can immediately apply to their own lives and future careers.