I don’t claim to have ever been a tomboy. But I’ve caught toads, climbed trees, and visited the sites of three of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. I love learning and adventure, and despite the gender specificity of the title, that’s what “The Dangerous Book For Boys” is all about.
Just like me, our reviewers are thoroughly enamored with this book:
- “This is the most awesome book ever.”
- “Every single member of my family has been interested in this book.”
- “A book FULL of activities and information… A MUST BUY!”
- “There is truly something for everyone.”
- “If you don’t have a child, read it yourself to learn how things really work.”
- “…a tome that could soon be considered the bible of boyhood.”
But what all of us have loved the most about this book is how it transcends time. Not only does this book impart knowledge that was just as valuable in our childhoods as it will be for our own children, but it demonstrates that what interested us as children still interests us now - perhaps even more so.
For example, I didn’t know about the Navajo code talkers when I was a child. But a few years ago, I read another book about codes and ciphers, and so I especially enjoyed those parts of this book. Likewise, my husband is a big fan of Latin phrases, as well as an avid poker and chess player. It’s no wonder that we’ve both been fascinated by “The Dangerous Book For Boys” - it’s all about stuff we already like, plus more stuff that we want to learn.
Unsurprisingly, as far as our reviewers are concerned, the only downside to this book is the title. “For Boys”? Harrumph. Our feminist sensibilities scoff at such limitations.
Even so, one reviewer’s perspective gave me pause: “It makes them feel special…like I need to know these things.“ And another reviewer (who happens to be an ice hockey player herself) noted that: “It isn’t really just for boys, but in the ‘olden days’ it would have been because surely the girls couldn’t have gotten dirty or needed to know some of the cool things covered.”
Reading this book sparked memories and wistfulness in all of our reviewers thus far. Excerpts from their reviews cannot do their stories justice; I encourage you to read all of the reviews individually because they are truly that enjoyable.
Likewise, please share your own childhood memories here in the comments. Not only will the rest of us enjoy your stories, but you’ll be entered to win a Vector 22 Two-Man Tent from The North Face! Winner to be announced in our Round-Up Review on May 22.
And please check out the remaining reviews - see the schedule below:
Wednesday 5/9 - Ruth Dynamite
Thursday 5/10 - Little Bird Reviews
Friday 5/11 - Troll Baby
Monday 5/14 - Plain Jane Mom
Tuesday 5/15 - Bananas and Toddlers
Wednesday 5/16 - The Domestic Diva
Thursday 5/17 - Mother Bumper
Friday 5/18 - Cool Stuff Con Queso
Mom to four boys here…love this book!
[...] At the Parent Bloggers Network [...]
I have 3 little guys right now, and I am going to pick up a copy this weekend!! It sounds GREAT!
What a hoot this book sounds like! With a boy on the way I know a book like this should be a staple in our home library. I’ll be picking up a copy soon!
Well, I want a Dangerous Book for Girls!
One of my favorite childhood memories was a very snowy day, a huge cardboard box and a beautiful wooded path that went downhill (at least in one direction.) My girlfriend and I spent hours sliding along this path looking at the winter wonderland that surrounded us. It was magical and oddly enough, no one else had discovered it that day.
I haven’t been this excited about a book in a long time, and I’m an avid reader! This one is definitely at the top of my “To Buy” list.
I don’t have a favorite childhood memory per se, but rather sort of a hazy, fond memory of what my childhood was like. I was just explaining to my own children how different the world was when I was a child in the 1970s. The world was just a much freer place, maybe because we weren’t cautious enough, maybe because we’re overly cautious now, who knows. My childhood was full of making mud pies, chasing fireflies, climbing trees, and going on long exploratory walks by myself or with kids from my block, and never once did I feel unsafe. I miss those balmy, firefly-lit, magical days and nights of my youth.
One of my favourite childhood memories is of tobogganing on a big hill one year (I think when I was about 5 or 6) when the snow was four feet deep with a crust on top that you could walk on. We spent hours out there. And one night there was a full moon, so my family and some of our friends went out after dark and all slid down the hill together on a tarp.
Not a specific event, but I remember riding bikes and big wheels all over the neighborhood with my 2 younger brothers. We had the greatest adventures, we played all day, and returned home in time for dinner. I doubt my mom knew exactly where we were most of the time, but life was different then!