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1:38 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007 | Permalink
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Parents with sons swap ideas for good books for boys the way other folks trade cherished recipes or gardening tips. So I was all ears when my sister, whose 12-year-old son is the same age as my Jackson, called a few weeks ago to tell me about a book that I might like to read with him. It's called "The Dangerous Book for Boys." While on vacation last week, I met up with my sister, and she was so disappointed that I hadn't gotten the book yet, she went out and bought a copy for me. Later that evening, Jackson was spread out on our hotel bed with his nose buried in the book -- completely ignoring his GameBoy and the cartoons and Animal Planet shows on the television. The book is partly a guide to timeless, boyhood skills, such as how to build the best paper airplane and tree house, how to skim rocks and tie knots. But it's also full of stories about risk-taking. I'm sure some will view this as gender bias and politically incorrect, but it doesn't feeling intentionally stereotypical and certainly doesn't come across as having an agenda. The audio book just came out, so I'm looking forward to learning such things as how to make a great slingshot. After all, my name is David. |
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Comments
Posted by Bill M. @ 2:37 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007
I've seen the book. Wise parents will buy it for their daughters, too. It's really about play, the sort of thing children used to do before we adults began to micromanage their lives or abandon them to video games.
Posted by Allison @ 5:15 PM Thu, Jun 28, 2007
I've often thought our kids are missing out on so many things because we keep them inside or within sight all the time. I think I'll get the book and encourage the sling shot!