Talk with her A dad's essential guide to raising healthy, confident, and capable daughters

Though geared toward dads, this debut book from Wolf contains sage advice for every parent or adult helping to shape a young woman's life. And by "dads," Wolf means all kinds of fathers, whether they're primary caretakers, long-distance dads, divorced parents, stepfathers, or grandfathers. Wolf's background in gender studies and human development, and her work as an educator and educational consultant, as well as her own lived experience inform this expert guide that is readable, relatable, and up to date. "Over and over again I encountered fathers of daughters who felt concerned, lost, and out-of-touch when it came to guiding their girls," she writes. In a reassuring tone, she reminds us that "it may seem like she's not listening to you, but she can hear you, and that's what matters most." Wolf includes sensitive topics that dads (and all parents) may be nervous about approaching, including sexual orientation, gender identity, transforming bodies, and social media influence. Talk with Her is an important addition to parenting collections.

"Making a lifelong impact happens one conversation at a time," writes Wolf, an education consultant, in her eminently helpful debut aimed at helping fathers foster positive relationships with their daughters. The bulk of her advice deals with 19 topics pertinent to a teen girl's development, among them body positivity (encourage them to "nourish yourself from the inside out"), gender and sexual identity ("make sure she knows that she is loved and supported"), friendship ("Don't tell your daughter she 'needs to be friends with everyone' "), sexual health ("Not everyone is having sex"), college selection ("focus on fit"), and financial literacy ("Talk to your daughter about money early"). In each section, Wolf offers an explainer, goals, talking points, and lists of what to say (plus what not to say). Other highlights include a rundown of strategies to level-up important conversations, including not multitasking while talking, while a q&a chapter features worries from real-world dads: "How can I stay connected to my daughter if I don't live with her," for example, and "Is there a right time to get a divorce?" This is essential reading for dads looking to help their daughters successfully navigate some turbulent years. Agent: Laurie Abkemeie, DeFiore & Co. (May)