The Little Guidebook for Smart and Resourceful Boys

This was originally a library book we borrowed... and then borrowed again... and then again! We finally bought the book so we could put sticky notes on the pages as we work through the different projects in the book. Some are easy, such as a cardboard boat... and some are just silly to include such as building a back yard fish pond! It a great book to fill some of the slow days of summer and breaks in the school year!

Excellent quality book cover, and a nice, thick book. There is an elasticized loop that keeps it closed, much like a journal, but I didn't open it because it is a gift and I was afraid I'd spoil its newness. My nephew will love it!

Great book... Purchased this book for my boys (age 8 and 5) last year for Christmas. Out of all the books they received, this is the one that gets pulled off the shelf again and again. The graphics and illustrations make it an appealing book even for prereaders or struggling readers. They have used it to identify animal tracks on hikes, look up constellations, and even to build a backyard tent out of old sheets. The hardcover book has held up well on different adventures and getting packed along on many trips. Highly recommend for adventurous elementary-age boys!

As the final school days are approaching I know that some parents will wonder how they can entertain their kids during the summer months. For us, I think we will do a bit of science intertwined with camp/VBS/family reunion and so on. But I recently received two marvelous books that could help many parents out there to entertain their kids during the months of June/July/August. These two books are packed with fun activities and cool facts from cover to cover. The books are The Boy's Book of Adventure and The Girl's Book of Adventure.

First let's take a look at the one dedicated for boys. In this little gem of a book, your child will be able to discover plenty of adventurous ideas for outdoors as well as fun-to-do crafts projects. Essentially, this is an outdoor activities book. With all the publicity emphasis the fact that kids are not spending enough time outside, it's nice to discover a book that encourages the kids to explore the outdoors. Here's what you will find in the table of contents: little insects in the grass, bike safety, secret codes, make your own wallet, morse code, awalé, protect yourself from the sun, wild geometry, trail signs, don't lose north, rescue techniques, shells, cool drinks, outdoor traveler's toolbox, most beautiful rocks, adventurer's shelter, poisonous snakes, make a periscope, music of the sea, first aid, taking care of plants without wasting water, reading a map, karate sudoku, native American way, pond in your backyard, make a water mill, music of the world, snail race, what will the weather be like tomorrow, your head in the stars, races on the water, make an herbarium, mystery of cherries, adventurer's pouch, how to catch a fish, bird-watching, sailors' knots, animal tracks, garden, send news, martian, and removing salt from seawater. *deep breath*

As you can see, there is a ton of interesting subjects to explore during the summer time. Some of them remind me of things I have done while being in the girl guides. Each subject has colorful illustrations and fun facts. I am very impressed with the project of hunting for bugs during the night!

Now let's explore the book that is specifically for girls. This one is packed with activities and fun-to-do projects. A little bit different that the boy one, this book will encourage your girl to explore things that she never did before. Here's what you will find in the table of contents: cooking with honey, make a swing, sailor's knots, beauty tips, discover Yoté, paper jewelry, photos like the pros, careful: poison, well-protected fruits, hiker's toolbox, flowers on your plate, precious photos, birthday piñata, herbal and wellness teas, predicting the weather, discover Furoshiki, candles all year long, organic calendar, Japanese-style breakfast, when the winds blows, homemade potpourri, woven pot, secret messages, games you can make, summer sarong, recycle yogurt containers, seasonal drinks, crazy game: Monkey Quarters, real magician, identifying wild flowers, celebrating music, fairy headpiece, hedgehog superstars, flower for decoration, beach comets, party projects, scent of times past, your jewelry bowl, dream catcher, my notes - my sketches.

Plenty of things to do with your girl don't you think? Again, this book is well designed and contains fabulous illustrations. I am very impressed with some of the activities and I will make a flower for decorations for my daughter's hair. I am certain that she will ask me to make one for her special doll, Léonie as well.

Did I mentioned that both books contains more than 50 stickers? No? Well here you go. More fun for your child because stickers are included. But seriously, I think the books can be used by siblings to encourage working together. My sweet daughter is a bit young to do it herself so I am thinking of asking her big brothers to do some of the activities with her. And when the boys explore something I don't see why their sister can't join them. Both books contains things I have done while in the girl guides... and it is interesting that they don't repeat themselves on the activities. In a way they kind of complete themselves... though some activities in the girl book wouldn't be fun for a boy and vice versa when it comes for the boy book for a girl. But I can see my daughter having fun catching bugs in the night and the boys enjoying a swing in a tree (if only we had a big enough tree that is... and then again there might be argument on whose turn it is to swing - make it would be better to have four?).

Both books are sturdy and can be carried for a trip or camp. I really think that the kids - boys or girls - will enjoy discovering the activities included in these books. They would make a great surprise book to give at the end of the school year and could help your kids to discover new fun things to do.

My kids and I reviewed this book for Mother Daughter Book Reviews. Here are our thoughts:

SON SAYS: This is the best book ever and I want to read it every single day. I've already made the compass and learned to tie knots - that was a lot of fun! I really liked reading about the snakes and the rocks. Some of the things I want to try making are the periscope, building the teepee, and making the telephone. I think this book is good for all boys and some girls like my Mom.

MOM SAYS: When Barron's Educational Series Inc. contacted me and asked me to have a look at The Boy's Book of Adventure and The Girl's Book of Adventure I literally jumped at the chance. The thought of having individual books for my son and my daughter filled with great ideas for fun stuff to do over the summer holidays was very, very attractive and these two books do not disappoint! In fact, each of my children immediately grabbed the books and took them to their bedrooms to flip through them. My son slept with his copy for one straight week. It would be an understatement to say they LOVE them!

Physically, the books themselves are very sturdy to withstand the great outdoors where they will surely be brought. The layout is very, very well done and is very kid-friendly. There are many, many illustrations and diagrams as well as simple step-by-step instructions for each of the activities. There is also a very wide range of activities with some involving building quite substantial things (e.g., a teepee), some involving small crafts and creations (e.g., a compass), and others simply providing interesting information (e.g., identifying wild flowers).

All of that being said, while I can see why it would be attractive to have gender-specific books and perhaps the activities in the books are geared toward what a parent might see as being in line with boys' interests and girls' interests; I also can see that my daughter, for example, would LOVE to do some of the activities in The Boy's Book of Adventure and vice versa, my son would LOVE to do some of the activities in The Girl's Book of Adventure. What happened in reality however is that both my son and daughter took ownership of the individual books, and heeded the warning on the covers "No Boys Allowed" and "No Girls Allowed". So, in one sense, the books do perpetuate stereotypes of boy-appropriate and girl-appropriate activities. But, at the end of the day, we all do stuff together so we usually throw gender out the window and do it all!

My Bottom Line:

I think these books are absolutely fantastic and they are literally FILLED with so many great ideas and information for fun activities and crafts. I think kids aged 8+ can do many of these activities independently and kids aged 5+ could do most of the activities with the help of a parent.

* I received a copy of this book free-of-charge from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. *