Noting that one of the biggest challenges in the United States today is the increasing number of infants and toddlers younger than age 3 who are cared for by someone other than their parents during work hours, this issue of NCEDL Spotlights announces the publication of a book examining out-of-home care for infants and toddlers. The book is an outgrowth of a national synthesis conference sponsored by the National Center for Early Development and Learning. It is noted that the book articulates the importance of appropriate caregiving during the first years of life, describes current practices and research findings, identifies key issues, and proposes new directions for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers. Chapter topics include cognitive development in infancy, language development in early childhood, quality in infant/toddlers programs, respiratory disease in infants/toddlers, diarrheal disease in infants/toddlers, early intervention and out-of- home care, cultural context of infant/toddler care, public policy, and the work-family relationship. The Spotlights issue concludes with a discussion of the need for societal supports for infant/toddler child care programs and a delineation of key discussion points from the book. (KB)