Finding the right Family & Consumer Science (FCS) textbook for your students can be challenging. With such a wide variety of subjects covered, from interior design to early childhood development, the needs of an FCS classroom can vary from class to class, making it that much more difficult.
As a passionate provider of Career and Technical Education (CTE) curriculum, iCEV has taken it upon ourselves to find curriculum that not only launches students into the world of FCS but can also offer students an introduction to specific fields of interest. While not every option will be a fit for every subject area in family and consumer science, this can get you started on your hunt for the best curriculum for your students.
In this article, you’ll discover four family and consumer science textbooks you can use to set your students up for success:
- Principles of Human Services, 2nd Edition Textbook
- Working with Young Children, 10th Edition Textbook
- Guide to Good Food, 15th Edition Textbook
- Apparel: Fashion Design & Construction, 12th Edition Textbook
Decide which curriculum is right for your classroom by learning about each option, who they’re a fit for, what they cost and what topics they cover.
Principles of Human Services, 2nd Edition Textbook
Written by Sharleen L. Kato, Ed.D, an family and consumer science educator for over 30 years with multiple publications under her belt, Principles of Human Services provides an introductory overview of the opportunities available in the FCS industry.
This book was published by Goodheart-Willox in 2022, and provides everything from career spotlights of industry professionals to hands-on activities and case studies. With this textbook, students can dive deep into the world of human services to find career pathways that spark their interest.
Principles of Human Services is divided into four units: 
- Unit 1: Learning About Human Services
- Unit 2: Preparing for Career Success
- Unit 3: Investigating Career Pathways in Human Services
- Unit 4: Exploring Human Services Related Courses
Who is the Principles of Human Services Textbook intended for?
Principles of Human Services could be a good fit for you if you want to provide your students with an overview of the family and consumer sicence industry as a whole. This textbook allows students to explore multiple areas within the industry and understand the aptitudes, skills and pathways needed for various careers.
However, if you’re looking to provide a deep understanding of one specific area within the FCS industry, this might not be the best fit for you. While this textbook does provide an overview of the FCS industry, it does not provide a fully comprehensive view of each subject area. Therefore, your students might be left wanting more context surrounding one specific area of study.
How much does the Principles of Human Services Textbook cost?
You can purchase Principles of Human Services in multiple formats, including a traditional print textbook or a digital version. Currently, you can purchase the printed textbook for $140 as well as a workbook for an additional $32.
A one-year access code to the digital version will cost you $70. However, there are multi-year subscriptions to an online learning suite for your classroom and bundle options available.
Working with Young Children, 10th Edition Textbook
Working with Young Children, written by Judy Herr, Ed.D., opens the world of early childhood development and care to students. This all-inclusive textbook dives deep into the subject by exploring everything from brain development in children, to creating engaging learning environments, to even addressing how students should deal with children who’ve experienced trauma.
Through special features like Early Childhood Insights, Safety First, Health Highlights, Focus on Careers, Ethical Responsibilities, and Workplace Connections, students truly gain a foundational knowledge base that they can continue to build upon as they further investigate the field.
Additionally, the Working with Young Children textbook includes the content students need to pursue the Child Development Associate Credential.
This textbook contains 33 chapters, including: 
- You: Working with Young Children
- Types of Early Childhood Programs
- Child Development Principles and Theories
- Preparing the Environment
- Selecting Toys, Equipment, and Educational Materials
- Promoting Children's Safety
- Planning Nutritious Meals and Snacks
- Guiding Children's Health
- Developing Guidance Skills
- Guidance Challenges
- Establishing Classroom Limits
- Handling Daily Routines
- Observing Children: A Tool for Assessment
- The Curriculum
- Engaging Families
- Your Career in Early Childhood Education
Who is the Working with Young Children Textbook intended for?
With 33 in-depth chapters, this option could be a good fit for you if you want to provide a well-rounded look into the world of early childhood education for students interested in pursuing a career in this field. From career outlooks to hands-on skill building, your students will gain an extensive knowledge base that set students up for lifelong successful careers.
However, if you want to provide a general overview of the field to spark student interest in early childhood education, this might not be the best fit. While it does provide a great deal of knowledge and resources, it also provides a deeper dive into the industry that could be overwhelming for students who are not interested in the topic.
How much does the Working with Young Children Textbook cost?
Currently, Working with Young Children is available as a traditional printed textbook for $133.28. It also includes a workbook for $32 and an observation guide for $36.64 that you can add on if you wish.
Guide to Good Food, 15th Edition Textbook
Guide to Good Food, written by Velda L. Largen and Deborah L. Bence, builds a foundation of knowledge of personal health and nutrition. This textbook builds a foundation of knowledge of healthy meal planning, Nutrition Facts Labels, skills needed to prep food, and how to lead an overall healthy lifestyle.
The Guide to Good Food textbook includes six units: 
- Unit 1: Getting Started in the Kitchen
- Unit 2: Nutrition and Wellness
- Unit 3: The Management of Food
- Unit 4: The Preparation of Food
- Unit 5: Foods of the World
- Unit 6: Food, Nutrition and Careers
Who is the Guide to Good Food Textbook intended for?
If you need a comprehensive textbook that provides a solid foundation of personal health, wellness and nutrition through activities and labs, Guide to Good Food could be the right option for you.
However, if you’re looking for curriculum that includes an introduction to nutrition and health in a professional hospitality setting, this might not be the best choice for you, as the curriculum is solely focused on personal nutrition and health.
How much does the Guide to Good Food Textbook cost?
Guide to Good Food is available in two formats, a traditional printed textbook and a digital subscription. Currently, you can purchase the textbook for $133.28 and an additional workbook for $32.
Additionally, a one-year subscription to the digital version is currently $66.64. There are also multi-year learning suite subscriptions for classrooms and bundles available.
Apparel: Fashion Design & Construction, 12th Edition Textbook
Written by Katherine A. Shaw, Louise A. Liddell, and Carolee S. Samuels, Apparel: Fashion Design & Construction is designed as a fundamental overview of textiles, fashion and clothing for high school students.
The curriculum provides a history of textiles and fabrics, an overview of careers in the industry, principles of fabric design, and hands-on activities to build skills in the construction of apparel. It is also aligned with the American Association of Family and Consumer Science (AAFCS) Pre-Professional Assessment and Certification (Pre-PAC) standards for Fashion, Textiles, and Apparel, as well as the NOCTI Apparel and Textiles Production and Merchandising job-ready credential.
The textbook includes six units: 
- Unit 1: Forms of Dress, Fashion and Fabric
- Unit 2: Understanding Design
- Unit 3: Fibers to Fabrics
- Unit 4: Sewing Techniques
- Unit 5: Forms of Dress: Fashion and Function
- Unit 6: Fashion and Retail Careers
Who is the Apparel: Fashion Design & Construction, 12th Edition Textbook intended for?
Apparel: Fashion Design & Construction could be a good fit for those looking for a comprehensive resource that includes skill-building activities, provides a foundational base of knowledge of fashion and apparel construction and is aligned to industry certifications.
However, if you need a resource that is primarily focused on building the skill of fashion design and apparel construction, this might not be the best choice for your classroom. While it does include hands-on activities that can build a student’s skill, the book doesn’t solely focus on the construction and design aspect.
How much does the Apparel: Fashion Design & Construction, 12th Edition Textbook cost?
Currently, the textbook is only available in print format. The textbook is priced at $140 and the optional workbook is available for an additional $32. It should be noted that an online learning suite is coming soon and will be available in a multi-year subscription format. However, there is no information available on a launch date for the online learning suite.
Which Family and Consumer Science Textbook is right for my students?
As you know, FCS encompasses a wide variety of subject areas that can make it challenging for you to select a curriculum that fits the needs of your students. However, making the right choice can spark interest and provide knowledge for a lifetime of learning.
Depending on the needs of your students, any of the choices listed above could be a fantastic option for you. However, if you’re teaching multiple courses throughout the year, providing numerous resources on various topics might not be feasible for your program.
If you need a singular, comprehensive solution across all FCS subject areas, check out iCEV’s Family and Consumer Science curriculum!
Created with educators and students in mind, iCEV equips you to face the challenge of managing multiple preps head-on. Our content library and coursework make it simple for you to teach a range of courses with a single resource.
