mother talk review - the daring book for girls

I really wasn't sure what to expect when I learned I would be receiving a copy of The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. I have to tell you though, when the book was finally in my hands, well it was love at first site. Okay, maybe love is too a strong a word, but I was certainly intrigued. The cover has a real retro look that just grabbed me right away. It brought to mind the circus. Old school circus from way back when they still had a traveling freak show. Can I also tell you how much I loved that this book had no dust jacket. An excellent decision for a book you're going to want to share with your own Daring Girls.


So I know what you're thinking? Hey Shan, what's inside the book. And that, my friends is a very good question. There is so much information in this book I wonder how they got it all in between the covers. There is some very necessary information like how to play jacks because Abby got some in a treat bag from a birthday party and I didn't know what to do with them. There's also some information that I can't see needing. I mean I don't anticipate Abby needing to know how to read tide charts and if she does I'm sure it will be at a point in her life that her father and I are shelling out major dollars for her post secondary education, but hey, if she needs to know before that I have the info.

Even still there is pages and pages of information we can use now. Like the rules for Four Square. I can distinctly remember spending countless recesses playing four square at the very same school Abby is attending right now. Now I remember playing it, but I can't for the life of me remember HOW to play it. Flipping through the book was a real enjoyable walk down memory lane. Especially reading the sections about campfire songs, slumber party games, handclap games and hopscotch. Did you know there is 8 different versions of hopscotch? There is also a pretty comprehensive section on the fourteen games of tag, although that doesn't include the "toilet tag" that Abby plays during phys ed at school. There are also many sections that will serve us well in the future. Like what needs to be in every girl's tool box. Or words to impress, putting your hair up with a pencil and how to negotiate a salary.

Now this isn't a book to pick up and read from start to finish. It's a book to tuck somewhere handy and dive into it whenever you get the chance. This time maybe you get a refresher course on double dutch. Maybe next time you learn how to change a tire. And even though this is an American book, they didn't leave us Canadians out offering up seven things you probably didn't know about Canada which, disappointingly, is pretty basic information. I'm talking Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories kind of basic, but I do give them credit for even mentioning us at all.

I really have to whole heartedly recommend this book to share with the daring girls in your life. Let it help you take those important girls back to a simpler time when kids didn't grow up so fast. Before the internet, iPods and cellphones. I'm even willing to help one of you get there quicker. I have one copy of the Daring Book for Girls to give away to one lucky reader. Just leave me a comment telling me how great I am your favourite childhood game. Was it tag, jacks or maybe cats cradle. Oh how I loved playing cats cradle. I will draw a name on Friday November 9 in the evening. Good luck to all.

Buy the book at Amazon.

See the authors appearance on the Today Show.

* In the interest of full disclosure, the nice folks at Mother Talk have given me a small honourarium in exchange for my fair review.