When I was pregnant with my twins in 1994, I read every book about multiples on the market. I pored over Elizabeth Noble's classic "Having Twins," and savored every word in "Mothering Twins." However, once my babies were born, I couldn't find time to open a book, much less comprehend complicated chapters of information!

The books I'd read gave me lots of statistics about twinning rates and a laundry list of what could go wrong during pregnancy and childbirth, but none of my reading offered concrete information on how to cope with the realities of every day life with two babies. What I needed was a survival guide.

If only I'd had access to Raising Multiple Birth Children: A Parents' Survival Guide. William and Sheila Laut are parents to triplets -- not doctors, psychologists or scientists. Their book is written from the perspective of battle-tested veterans, and is full of tips and advice about every aspect of life with multiples.

They approach the subject with a triple dose of humor. Every parent of multiples can appreciate the scene in the first chapter when the authors experience that "unforgettable moment that changes their lives," as they discover that they are having triplets. From that moment on, the lighthearted tone reflects the fun and enjoyment that accompanies the challenges of raising multiples; it's obvious that the Laut's relish their role as triplet parents and delight in sharing the experience with others.

Like life with multiples, the book sometimes exhibits a chaotic and frenzied pace. Checklists and paragraph sections are broken up with suggestions and comments from parents. While the choppy chapters are easy to browse in small doses (perfect for time-starved parents), the conglomeration of quick tips and quips is sometimes haphazardly presented. Some of the most valuable content is contained in the quotes from parents, The italicized text in shaded blocks is easily missed if you're scanning too quickly.

When I tried to recall a suggestion about easing kitchen cleanup, I had to hunt through several chapters as well as the index before I finally retrieved it in the special "Quick, Give Me an Idea Fast!" chapter. Because of the great mass of information contained in the book, it can be difficult to immediately pinpoint specific advice when you need it. Perhaps parents should read the book with a highlighter in hand; however, nearly every paragraph has some tidbit worth remembering!

It's a well-rounded guide, addressing the logistical challenges of baby care and housekeeping, but also greater family issues like marital relations, birthdays, finances and career choices. And, unlike many books on the subject, it doesn't stop with the first year. The chapter on the second and third year is one of the highlights. Because the authors are triplet parents, this is probably one of the best books available for parents of higher order multiples. So many books are aimed at parents of twins; Raising Multiple Birth Children stands out in its content on life with three or more. This is a must-have survival guide for parents of twins, triplets, quadruplets and higher. It's an excellent collection of true-to-life, practical advice on managing -- and even enjoying -- life with multiples.