The Daring Book for Girls - by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz - book review

Inspired by The Dangerous Book for Boys, Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz have produced a wonderful book for girls and women.  They acknowledge the authors and thank them for their permission to use the concept and design of The Dangerous Book for Boys, as inspiration. 

I was just about to read it when my 17-year-old daughter said: "Oh, let me read it first."

 The Daring Book for Girls

So I thought you would appreciate her list of favorites from the book.

My daughter's list of book favorites:

My daughter was a Girl Scout for 10 years (and I was a leader during that time). More than anything, my daughter appreciated the crafts featured in the book and the histories of various activities. The Daring Book for Girls is not a Girl Scout publication, but it is right up their alley.)

She loved the instructions on how to put your hair up with a pencil! This is a convenient way to perform hair magic when a claw or scrunchie is nowhere to be found.

We were happy to find instructions on how to make a Sit-Upon - remember those? We made ours 10 years ago - and, even though it has been through many activities, it is still worthy of being sit-upon!

Did you know:
There are 14 games of Tag?

That Hopscotch dates back to the Romans? Have you seen the French (Escargot - Snail - Round hopscotch)?

That there are right and wrong ways to tie a Sari?

That Chinese jump rope exists around the world but under names as various as: American Jump Rope, German Jump Rope, Japanese Jump Rope and Norwegian Jump Rope.

That Double Dutch jump rope began in The Netherlands and first appeared in this country in - yep, you guessed it: New York, with the first Dutch settlers. But it was not until the 1950s that Double Dutch became wildly popular - and, in the 1970s, it became a competitive sport for urban kids, and is now a worldwide team sport.

Have you ever:
Made a God's eye?

Do you know?
How to fold a T-shirt - Japanese style?
How to whistle with two fingers? (My daughter says she will try this)
How to do the Yoga Sun Salutation?
How to build a campfire?
How to press flowers?
How to make a taut-line hitch in a knot?
How to make a cloth-covered book?

Do you know the common Campfire songs? The Green Grass Grows All Around?

 Co-author Andi Buchanan

 Co-author Miriam Peskowitz

And here is my list of book favorites:

I loved the histories of famous women throughout the ages. Beginning with Daring Spanish Girls, the authors describe three young Spanish women, who have achieved outstanding success.

Bullfighter Cristina Sanchez de Pablos, born in 1972, fought her first bullfight in Madrid, just before she turned 21. She was one of the first matadoras (female bullfighter) in Spain and enjoyed great success during her career, and retired in 1999.
 

Did you know?
Princess Kalina of Bulgaria is a vegetarian and animal-rights advocate?
Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco has a degree in computer science?
Princess Lalla Khadija of Morocco's father pardoned prisoners in honor of her birth?
Princess Beatrice Elizabeth Mary Windsor (daughter of Fergie and Andrew) undertakes charities works, including Russia's HIV-infected children?
Princess Masako of Japan refused the prince's first proposals of marriage?

(Princess Masako went to high school in Massachusetts, then returned to Japan and achieved a high degree of professional success, from which she was reluctant to step down  to become the Princess, which accounts, in part, at least, for her first refusal of marriage to the Prince.)

NOT to be missed: Queens of the Ancient World: Wise Artemisia; Salome Alexandra of Judea; Cleopatra of Egypt; Boudica's Rebellion; Zenobia, Queen of the East.

Women spies! And how to be a spy!

And NOT to be missed: Books that will change a girl's life:

This is a long list that includes P.L. Travers' Mary Poppins; Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle In Time; all Roald Dahl books; Jack London's Call of the Wild; and dozens of other classic books from the 19^th and 20^th centuries.

There is SO much more in the book than can be briefly exampled here. It is so chock full of histories, crafts, songs and books that it  is a terrific reference book that will grace your home for many years.  

This is a GREAT gift book! 

So girls: Be daring! Be yourself. Go out into the world, grab hold and never let go!

Daring Book for Girls on Amazon

The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz, published by Collins, hardcover.

ISBN-10: 0061472573
ISBN-13: 978-0061472572

List price is $24.95, but Amazon offers the book for $14.97, and you can get used books from $13.25.