I haven't read this book. I haven't even cracked the cover. Okay, I don't own it, that's the real deal. But I really dig the way it looks and am excited to get my hands on a copy. The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Hal and Gonn Iggulden, reminds me so much of this book from the Handy series I posted about, awhile ago and surely it was a major inspiration. The problem with the old Handy Books, (I love them dearly, don't get me wrong) is that it's really hard to replicate the projects because they often involve fire, farms, iced over ponds, and other things that are either not in Portland and/or are now illegal. But the illos alone make all the Handy books worth owning, I think.
I have heard much criticism of the girls versions of these types of books, (There is no girl version of the Dangerous Book for Boys.) Either they don't exist or the ideas are too dated and limiting. I think that is true, which is why, even if we have 3 girls, this book will be on our shelves. I was making bombs with my brother (sorry mom), chucking slugs, and trying to learn to pick locks growing up and had a swell time.
I saw this book while browsing online, but it's not out yet (it's new, it just looks old) so, it's still a mystery. The cover is awesome, but I don't really dig the title, 'cause we all know being the best at something isn't really the point. . .anyhoo, there is a boy version too. Maybe this girl version will be a bit more rough and tumble in its scope of activities? Who knows. Even though I LOVE this stuff, I'm surprised at how much gender is separated today, especially with these new titles. Like why not The Dangerous book for Kids? Not just boys? I was a Free To Be You and Me child, born in 1972, and gender was really downplayed during that time, especially in clothes. . .then again, we all had bowl cuts, too, so there was some compromise.
