The edited book series Studies in Perception and Action contains a collection of research presented at the International Conference on Perception and Action (ICPA). The Studies series has appeared in conjunction with the biennial ICPA since 1991. ICPA provides a forum for presenting new data, theory, and methodological developments relevant to the ecological approach to perceptionaction. This volume is the 9th in the Studies in Perception and Action series, and it contains research presented at the 14th ICPA meeting in the summer of 2007. The sixty papers presented in this volume represent the latest developments in ecological psychology research from four continents. In many instances, the contributions to Studies volumes reflect the first appearance of new ideas in a scientific venue. As a result, the Studies volumes contain the most recent and cutting edge research in perception and action. This volume will appeal to individuals who follow the research literature in ecological psychology, as well as those interested in perception, perceptual development, human movement dynamics, and social processes.

Since 1991, the edited book series Studies in Perception and Action has appeared in conjunction with the biennial International Conference of Perception and Action (ICPA), a conference that provides an opportunity for individuals who share interests in ecological psychology to come together to present current research, exchange ideas, and engage in conversation on theoretical and methodological concerns. The Studies in Perception and Action series is a way to preserve the dialogues between conference attendees and researchers displaying their latest work. This volume, the eighth in the series, presents the conversations held at the 13th ICPA meeting in the summer of 2005.
 
"Studies in Perception and Action VIII "includes broad coverage of the most current advances in research on perceiving and acting, including contributions from researchers in Australia, China, Japan, Europe, and North America. It addresses cutting-edge research in dynamics and human movement, recent progress in ecological approaches to perceiving and acting, and substantially extends our knowledge of just how rich a source of information the world is across a wide range of modalities.
 
This volume will appeal to individuals who follow the research literature in ecological psychology, as well as those interested in perception, perceptual development, human movement dynamics, and social processes.

Maddie is thrilled that her parents have connected their computer to the Internet. Now she can surf the net for new friends. Her time is very restricted by her parents and by having to share with her brothers. She finds a way around that by going down late at night. But Maddie's family is worried because they know she is planning to meet a boy from among her cyber pals. Only Granny will understand and help her deal with finding a balance between exploring the world and staying safe.

At home, Maddie feels no one understands her. At school, things aren't much better. Her little genius brother Julian joins the drama class she's in and steals the show.
Not even Gran can be a refuge for Maddie because Gran has come to look after all the kids while their mother takes a break. The only thing to do is try to be good - to be responsible, kind and patient. And that's not easy

Marilou and her father are keeping Camelot, a camel, in their garden for a few days. Meanwhile Marilou's father is building a new enclosure for the camel at the zoo which will be like the desert. After Marilou has taken her pet camel for a tour of her neighbourhood, they take him back to the zoo. Marilou sees that Camelot will be well protected in the new enclosure, but also very isolated. Together they all make changes to the fence so that everyone can pay a visit. In this amusing story, Marilou and her friends share with each other all they know about camels, where they come from and what they need.

One night Christopher finds some little people under his pillow - they are no bigger than three centimetres tall! Now he has to be on his toes all the time. It's not easy learning their customs and keeping them out of trouble!

The Swank twins are back and they are confusing their parents and confounding the experts because no one can understand what they say. Only another pair of twins can solve this riddle.

Max would like to be a superhero so that he can protect his family from evil. All he needs is a Flying Avenger costume like the one he has seen in the toy store. Christmas is only one month away. He is sure to get one if he asks his parents. Suddenly, everything is topsy-turvy. Nothing is the same at home and Max doesn't understand what's wrong. Then he finds out that his Dad is out of work. Now that his family is POOR, what sort of Christmas will they have?

Toby's parents think he worries too much and they want to get something that will be good for him. He's very pleased when they get him a dog who can be his companion. They sit up half the night looking at the snowstorm.
In the morning Toby and his friends make a snow fort. In his excitement, he forgets about his puppy. His friend takes care of the puppy. Toby learns how people care for one another.

Mikey will never be the teacher's pet. In fact, the only thing he's good at in school is making the teacher mad. When he's accused of stealing carrots to feed the school guinea pig, Mikey thinks things can't get any worse. But he's wrong...

Will is always asking questions. Is there a wall at the top of the sky? Do you stop aging when you hold your breath? This is an imaginative story that will fuel the curiosity of young readers.

One evening Leo's friend Julio disappears. He rode off on his bike, and hasn't come back. Leo and his classmate Butch are very worried because Julio is a vampire and cannot be exposed to daylight. The boys have to get as much help as they can to find the boy before daybreak. Only a few people in the village know of Julio and his family. Now his parents have to come out from their apartment underneath the cemetery to meet a very unfriendly crowd. This story is about finding the courage to confront prejudice and the value of facing risks to do the right thing.

Carl is on his way to his summer holidays on the Magdalen Islands, where he and his old dog Mooch had so much fun.
This time Carl is going with his friend Gary and Gary's dog Dumpling. Terrified of everything, Dumpling clings tightly to Gary.
Carl can't help remembering his noble and magnificent Mooch.
The more ridiculous Dumpling becomes, the more Carl is convinced that he has to do something to honour Mooch's life.
This is a book about friendship, courage and grief.

Mikey is the class clown, but sometimes things are tricky at home. With Christmas coming, Mikey hopes that his dad will be able to play his part in the holiday celebrations. Here's a touching - and surprising - story about life at home and at school.

Arthur's dad is about to give up because he cannot find a babysitter. Arthur has had twenty-three! But this time Arthur's dad thinks he has finally found a match for Arthur.

On the morning after Christmas, Toby's family begins the day like any other holiday. All of a sudden everything changes when someone phones to tell them that Toby's aunt has died in a car accident. They pack up and drive to his grandparents' house in the country where all the family are gathered. After the ceremony at the funeral home, everyone goes to the family home. Toby notices that although everyone is very sad, they are also able to smile, chat and even sing. He wonders why people can be both happy and sad. He also wants to know what happens when a person dies. This story brings out all the questions a curious child might ask when someone dies in a family.

Maddie dreams she is having breakfast by the pool, a tropical breeze ruffling the palm trees as her limo warms up in the garage?until her baby sister's screams wake her up, and she goes downstairs to find her brothers fighting over dry toast.

Maddie's aim is to have her own life, new friends, and new experiences. In this story, Maddie finds herself looking up to an older kid -- a really cool guy -- hoping to get into his gang. Her troubles begin when she creates a cover-up for her after-school activities.

Toni Biscotti is shy, really shy. So why has she signed up to perform at the school concert? Is it because of Marco Bonneau? And what's so special about him?

Marilou and her classmates are going to put on a play at school. It's based on a famous fable by La Fontaine about a grasshopper and an ant.
Marilou gets to play the grasshopper who sings all day long. But when she learns that the grasshopper is supposed to starve in winter after singing all summer, Marilou is convinced the famous French author made a mistake.
Marilou and her friends decide to change the story to give it a new twist.

Carl's old dog Mooch is losing her memory and wandering away from home???four times in the last two weeks alone. Each time, Carl and his best friend Gary have tracked her down, but this time the dogcatcher has got her. When they go to fetch Mooch at the pound???among the poodles and dachshunds, pit bulls and mutts???she's sicker and sadder than they've ever seen her before. As Mooch gets weaker and weaker, Carl and Gary have to face that she'll soon be gone???but not before Mooch gives them one more gift. Hang on, Mooch! is a touching story about the inevitability of loss, and how young people can learn from it and grow.

Fred's family runs a fishmarket, and it's renovation time in the store. When grandmother Jackie arrives to help, disaster strikes - and Fred and his cat are right in the middle of all the trouble. This is a story of mayhem mixed up with lots of love.

Maddie would do anything to have her own walkman. But a walkman costs a lot of money, and putting her hands on the cash gets Maddie into some tight corners.

Fred likes to imagine great adventures. When he goes ice fishing with his father he imagines they are Inuit hunters in an igloo. However, when he finds himself alone on an ice floe, floating away from dry land and his dad, Fred wishes his chilling real-life adventure would soon end.

Maddie has quite a problem. Her whole family, her dad, her mum, her brothers, and the baby are getting on her nerves. What to do? Maddie decides she'll run away from home ... but what do you do when it's six o'clock and it's time for supper?