The Daring Book for Girls - review

"For every girl with an Independent spirit and a nose for trouble, here is the no-boys-allowed guide to adventure." - blurb from back of The Daring Book For Girls

When I heard the buzz about The Dangerous Book for Boys, I was very interested.  My friend mentioned a section teaching about tying knots, and raved on about many things I, as a tomboyish girl, would have loved knowing as a child.  I hesitated over the title, though, because my oldest, the child soonest ready for the book, is a girl.  I didn't want to give her the idea the adventurous ideas in the book were "just for boys".

So when I heard about The Daring Book for Girls I was even more interested, but again hesitated.  What if the spirit of adventure and discovery I expected from the Book for Boys was missing, and instead, it focused on sewing and other things traditionally thought "girly"?

Now I know I needed have no fear, the spirit of adventure is alive and well in this book.  From "How to Be a Spy" to female "Pirates" it's packed with things a daring girl would find fun to read.  It feeds their minds and imaginations with sections on female leaders, past and present, and projects of many types, from scooters to daisy chains.

The sections are concise, excellent for short attention spans or busy parents.  Educational topics are balanced with others that are purely fun. The style is old-fashioned, bringing to mind childrens' encyclopedias from the past, and encouraging kindness and other mores too often lacking today, but the awareness of all people, and girls and boys, as equals is current.

I appreciated the inclusiveness: A section on "The Three Sisters" talks about the Iroquoise way of growing Corn, Beans, and Squash. There are sections on Karate and Yoga.  "Princesses Today" not only focuses on princesses from around the world but also their good works and accomplishments whether service-oriented, academic, or physical.

They even tackle the subject of "Boys," managing to cover the many different ideas and myths with common sense and wisdom, giving an overall message I can be glad is offered my daughter: however she feels about boys is ok, and that it's best to be herself and treat all her friends, boy or girl, with kindness, as people first, free of stereotypes and generalizations.

This is a book I'm glad to have in our library.

September, 2009 edit:  The popularity of this book spawned a second, The Double Daring Book For Girls, and a Daring Game for Girls, currently in production for the Nintendo Wii and DS.

(I have more info on the game at: The Daring Book For Girls)