A collection of 18 short articles dealing with the planning of programs and places for early childhood education comprise the volume. The importance of the right physical environment is stressed as a catalyst that enables a child to receive the best that people and programs can offer. Among the design parameters discussed are indoor-outdoor relationships; the size and flexibility of furnishings; color, texture, and lighting; safety features; facility requirements; the effect on building design needs of climates in Alaska and Florida; remodeling; space classification; and developments in other countries. (Photographs, illustrations, and floor plans may reproduce poorly.) (MLF)