“Mama’s Little Baby: The Black Woman’s Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth and Baby’s First Year” Dennis Brown, M.D., and Pamela A. Toussaint, Dutton, $24.95, 494 pages

Books on childbirth and parenting abound, but few are developed from the perspective of an African American. This comprehensive book acknowledges the unique concerns and needs of black women who are about to become mothers. The authors conducted focus-group research to understand what black women wanted to know about pregnancy and childbirth, and the book reflects real-life experiences. There is also a section on the historic and cultural experiences of black women giving birth, with a discussion on common folklore. Fathers are included with a chapter called “Becoming Daddy.”