“The Daring Book For Girls” by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz
Nov 5-Dec 5, 2007
It’s blue! It’s sparkly! It’s awesome!
We are beyond thrilled to spread the word about The Daring Book for Girls, by MotherTalk founders Andi Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz. A response to last year’s popular The Dangerous Book for Boys, Daring picks up where Dangerous left off, providing songs, activities, and lessons for today’s girls. Amazon describes it as “the manual for everything that girls need to know –– and that doesn’t mean sewing buttonholes!”
Whether it’s female heroes in history, secret note-passing skills, science projects, friendship bracelets, double dutch, cats cradle, the perfect cartwheel or the eternal mystery of what boys are thinking, this book has it all. Whether readers consider themselves tomboys, girly-girls, or a little bit of both, this book is every girl’s invitation to adventure.
Where to find more juicy Daring goodness:
Here’s what MotherTalk reviewers are saying about The Daring Book for Girls:
It’s All Good says, “As I turned the pages of this book, I found myself reliving the girlhood I had left behind. I was taken back to the days of exploring, playing Chinese jump rope, making friendship bracelets, and of course, slumber parties.”
Here in the Bonny Glen says “The problem is, I haven’t read it yet because I cannot get it away from my daughters. Jane just may have to be the one to review it. She snatched it up the moment it arrived, and that’s the last I saw of it. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen much of her either. She surfaced briefly, brandishing a roll of packing tape, to ask if we had any old newspapers she could use to make a waterproof cushion for sitting on out-of-doors.”
Baggage and Bug says “If you are one of those girls who always stood in envy of the girls who somehow just KNEW how to do things, pick up a copy of this book. You can pretend it is for your daughter or niece or the girl down the street. Bring it home, climb in the bathtub, pull your hair back with a pencil, and read. You will be glad you did.”
All Rileyed Up says “The Daring Book for Girls is not about make-up, it’s not about losing weight or dressing stylishly, and it’s not at all about how to tell if so-and-so likes you. In fact, the ‘Boys’ section is one page, and it basically tells you to be yourself and never change for anyone. That’s why this book rocks.”
BlondeMomBlog says “Some of these activities might be forgotten in this era of iPods and texting and require only one’s imagination and perhaps the simplest of resources, like a deck of cards or a sturdy jump rope. Sometimes I wonder if my girls will miss out by never knowing a simpler time when a letter was something tactile that you found waiting like a friend in the mailbox, and not something you clicked on a computer keyboard to retrieve.”
Kvetch Blog says “Like a guidebook or encyclopedia, The Daring Book for Girls, written by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz, takes girls on journeys from knot-tying to thank-you note writing, from softball glove care to dealing with boys.”
Mommy Brain says “Natalie and I have been browsing through this book for the past few days, stopping to read sections aloud to each other, and making plans for the projects we want to do together. The pages of this book are like a walk down memory lane. So many activities that I remember from my girlhood are nestled in these pages, as well as a lot of information I would have found fascinating when I was a girl. In fact, I still do!”
Goddess Musings says “What I found not so much surprising, but refreshing was the amount of feminist history & facts that made it into the book. It wasn’t highlighted in feminist pink or under the label ‘feminist history page 5.’ Instead it is woven into many of the topics covered without much fanfare and perhaps quite stealthy, especially good considering that not every girl who will unwrap this book at Christmas/Hanukkah/Solstice/Kwanzaa has radical parents.”
Abbilyeverafter says “Let me warn you, by the time you are done reading this post you’ll be thanking me. Thanking me big time because if you have any young girls, or mothers of young girls, on your Christmas list I will have clued you in as to the perfect gift for them - The Daring Book for Girls.”
Afrogeek Mom and Dad says “Frances got a hold of the book. As a general rule she is suspicious of anything too ‘girly,’ perceiving a surplus of pink and glitter and saccharine sentiment as sure signs of something not fun. But this book intrigued her. It showed her five karate moves, how to press flowers (which she thought would make cool bookmarks), how to play zombie and hot-lava monster tag, how to play the French version of hopscotch (which involves a snail shaped playing field and a lot of hopping on one foot–”the French really know how to live,” Frances said), and how to make her own scooter.”
Doobleh-vay says “This book is an adventure that does not require a web code download, scads of money, or a trip to Target. Our children are dashing through childhood and need to slow down and live and it is not just some sort of nostalgia that we adults are pushing, it is the truth.”
SMS Book Reviews says “The illustrations (by Alexis Seabrook) are a great addition and help explain some of the handicrafts and other things in the book. Some of the illustrations and some photos are colour too which is a nice touch. The cover (the picture above doesn’t do it justice) is all sparkly and as a hardcover with no flyleaf, it’s built to last.”
Mother Words says “On page one, there is an outline of the essential gear that all daring girls should have. #12 is patience: ‘It’s a quality and not a thing, but it’s essential so we’ll include it here. Forget perfect on the first try. In the face of frustration, your best tool is a few deep breaths, and remembering that you can do anything once you’ve practiced two hundred times. Seriously.’ How often did I not try something new because I didn’t think I could do it? How often did I fail to push myself to keep trying, keep going after I had failed at something? I could have used #12 as a girl, and I can use it now. I won’t forget to remind Stella of its importance.”
Tales from the Fairy Blogmother says “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?
Magpie Girl says “This is just the kind of book a favored aunt would give her spunky niece. And aren’t you lucky—it’s here just in time to give a girl you love the gift of adventure this holiday season!”
Reverend Mother says “But there are also sections that push girls to think and explore their world more widely. Who knew there were female pirates? And while I loved tether ball as a kid, it would have never occurred to me to build a tether-ball pole in my backyard.”
MomReviews says “This book makes me want to be a kid again. Thank you so much Andi and Miriam, for writing this book and keeping the traditions of childhood alive. For reminding us of how important women have been in history up until now, and how important they will be in times to come. For making me excited about having a daughter to whom I can teach all the things in The Daring Book for Girls. I just wish I could get the words to ‘Miss Merry Mack’ out of my head now.”
Sheepish Annie says “I then proceeded to fluff my up my hair, reapply a bit of lipstick, wipe a little smudge off those new killer boots that I snagged last year with the oh-so-perfect-heel and head out to pick up some plumber’s tape to finish up installing that new shower head. And that’s when it hit me. There are things about being a girl that I sort of like. And I really like living in an age where I can celebrate my femininity without compromising my sense of self or independence. This, my friends, is a very cool thing. And something that made The Daring Book For Girls a ‘must read’ for me.”
ReadingWritingLiving says “At any rate, my daughters proved to me that there isn’t an age limit on this book. I found things that I wanted to try out, and so did each of them. We probably won’t be hitting that Periodic Table of the Elements anytime soon, but plug your ears if you see us coming; we might know how to do that whistle.”
Black Belt Mama says “I also loved the chapter called ‘The Girls Guide to Danger’ where one of the ‘dangerous’ things the authors recommend for girls is to ‘Stand up for yourself-or someone else.’ Thank you Andrea and Miriam! I must repeat this to my daughter every single week, and it’s something that is well worth repeating to young girls these days who will be walked all over if they don’t learn this simple concept early in life.”
Chicky Chicky Baby says “But let’s face it, when I was a girl, skinning my knees and racing my pink Huffy with the boys in my neighborhood, I was also interested in many of the stereotypical girly things like trying to master a cartwheel. I never did, but there’s a section in the book that teaches you how to and how to do a back walk-over. I guess I’ll have to stick to making ivy crowns. It’s probably safer that way.”
PunditMom says “If you’re the parent of a daughter who could use a little nudging to take off the headphones and get a little fresh air, then this book is just what the doctor (or Santa) ordered. There are so many great craft ideas and topics to spark the imagination of a girl it’s hard to know where to start.”
And the Pursuit of Happiness says “Then I had two daughters. And as a girl, I had always wanted a sister so badly. Another girl to do girly things with and dream about princesses and castles and living happily ever after someday. It was not to be, but when I had two wonderful, gorgeous little girls who are 19-months apart and even at ages 3 and 5, they are so lucky to already have that best friend in each other. I hope it stays. The Daring Book for Girls by MotherTalk founders Andrea J Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz is a lovely homage to what girlhood should be.”
Needs New Batteries says “There are certain things that a girls just knows, or needs to know, or used to know. There are certain ways of being in the world whose time sometimes seems past, but the joys of girlhood ought to be cherished long into adulthood - and you, the little girlies in my life right now, you know who you are and there are certain treasures in store for you - and many, if not most, can be found in The Daring Book for Girls.”
Stirrup Queens says “I did think the girls book was daring, mostly because it presented the challenge of straying from the path your friends may be walking in order to forge your own. It doesn’t matter if the rest of the world has been Libby Lued and iPodized. The Daring Book for Girls dares girls to strive for excellence, take a risk, stand up for herself–all the things the two authors have done by leaving the well-beaten path of job security in order to write their own books, start their own business, and write their own magazine. I think the fact that the authors are walking the walk makes a huge difference.”
Petroville says “Having two daring young girls of my own, I was eager to share this gold mine with them. We took turns reading to each other at the bus stop in the morning, after homework and curled up on the couch in the evening. The games made us smile while the historical passages gave us something powerful to chew on. It was wonderfully liberating to applaud being female with my daughters - all the while remaining positive and innocent. Time very well spent, I would say.”
Bleeding Espresso says “I have to admit that at first I felt a little guilty getting this book to review when I don’t have any daughters (yet, hopefully), but I quickly realized that’s not a prerequisite to enjoying it. This is a great book even for those of who simply want to take a walk through more innocent times, to remember what it felt like to be out on the corner playing Chinese Jump Rope or doing cartwheels with the neighborhood kids.”
Parentopia says “he book is about daring to be a girl! Playing jumprope instead of hip-hop. Making a phone out of string and cans instead of using your cell. Playing with chalk instead of texting. You know - actually enjoying childhood! The book is filled with all those things we grew up doing. The book is saying these were good things that helped to mold us into good people. Don’t be afraid to pass them down to your kids just because they seem so… ‘retro’ by today’s standards.”
Between the Lines says “Anyway, luckily for me the inside lived up to what the outside promised, and then some. This is my favorite kinds of book, really — one that you don’t read from beginning to end, but rather pick up, let fall open, and dive right in.”
Mommy Must Haves says “Eventually, I found even more exciting things to do with my recess time, including climbing trees, befriending squirrels, and pretending to be a great detective. I never joined in on the games of house that many girls played. Too boring for me - I needed excitement, not drama! Now that I’m the mother of two girls, I find myself thinking of so many things I want to teach them from my childhood. I used to jot down notes here and there, reminding myself about games I played and places I visited that I want them to know about, too. I can throw out some of those notes, because now there is a book that contains many of these secrets.”
Left-Handed Trees says “With topics ranging from: Pressing Flowers to Going to Africa, Friendship Bracelets to Finance: Interest, Stocks, and Bonds—this book certainly reassured any initial reluctance I may have had with regard to separating topics as “female†or “male†as these books, on the surface, could. I was impressed with the evenhandedness of the subject matter, with learning so many things I didn’t know about women’s history in spite of my women’s studies degree, and with the variety of ‘things to do’—which can keep my girl interested no matter what her mood is in any given moment.”
Crunchy Granola says “There’s a lot to like about The Daring Book for Girls–not least its sparkly turquoise color which Curious Girl got very excited about.”
Holding Still says “Neither of us could tie our hair up with a pencil, alas. Her hair was too long, mine too short. I got hers up with a chopstick, with a few alterations in the directions here and there. We had a lovely time together, and I think that it’s a great, great book for forming and cementing female relationships, whether it be friend to friend, mother to daughter, or aunt to niece. Since I don’t have any girls, I’m going to cover it with a plain paper cover and use it with my boys when they get older… Do you think they’ll catch on?”
Corblue’s Closet says “My Daring Book for Girls is a fun book for the coffee table. In a moment of relaxation and rest I sit down, pick it up, and let it open to whatever page it feels like turning too. No matter what page that might be, there is something interesting for me to remember from my days as a little girl on the playground or for me to learn and enjoy today as a mother.”
Props and Pans says “If you have a girl who seems to be growing up a bit too quickly or would rather be instant messaging on her computer, texting with her friends or watching way too much Hannah Montana instead of DOING things, maybe this is the book that can turn that around. We can hope, can’t we?”
My Own Circle of Confusion says “I remember being a kid. Other kids seemed to know ’stuff.’ Stuff I didn’t know. I sometimes felt like I wasn’t paying attention when instructions on ‘how to do stuff’ were being handed out. The Daring Book for Girls would have been a great answer for my problem.”
Simple Inspirations says “My 5 year old daughter loved to listen to, and I myself enjoyed reading about, the pirates, the explorers and inventors with a sense of pride..women rock!!! Also a big hit with her were the princesses both old and modern! My ten year old daughter studied the pictures and read through a lot of the different activities with TONS of interest…so there is no age limit on this book at all!!! There is something for absolutely every girl.”
Midlife Mama says “He started flipping through it, immediately seeing the similarities to The Dangerous Book for Boys, which he received as a birthday present this year. ‘Hey! We didn’t get instructions for how to make a volcano! Why didn’t we get that?’ He continued to turn pages, noting how many things ‘they’ got to do that ‘we’ didn’t.”
Goodnight, Mom says “One thing that I think is really a neat is that each of the sections is multi-faceted. For example, the section on weather not only has the definitions of cloud types but famous sayings about the weather and even poems about the weather. Most of the sections on sports not only have a how-to play but a history of the sport. I also enjoyed how they chose such interesting sports or ’sports’ as it were.”
Mommy Writer Blog says “This section of the book almost had me in tears. Each of these books–24 years later–still hold a very special place in my heart. So much so, I’m off to re-read them. To find the simple joys that brought me to them in the first place.”
Manic Mommy says “But guess who snagged the copy the minute I got it and called up her two little girlfriends and hoarded it up in her room and then laughed and giggled and wouldn’t even let me see the book for the first two weeks it lived in our home! Yep, my own Daring Daughter Diva!”
Toddler Planet says “This book aims to appeal to a wide age and temperament range of girls. There are sections on hand-clap games, cootie catchers, writing in cursive, and jumping rope, there are also sections of this book for girls to ‘grow into,’ such as sections on negotiating a salary and changing a tire.”
Maddie! Maddy! Madeeeee! says “From paddling a canoe to making paper to telling a good ghost story, this book has a great set of options for those ‘boring’ (Think the scream: ‘MOM! I’m BORED’) afternoons. Snuggle in with your kid (BOY OR GIRL) and read a bit about a cool queen or throw open the door wide and run out into the wilderness and pitch a tent.”
Miserablebliss says “And oh, you’ll want to toss it around while you’re experimenting with things like playing Darts, putting your hair into a ponytail using a pencil (a skill that I have used endless times while working in an office, I might add), learning basic First Aid, making Cootie Catchers and perfecting five karate moves. If I could afford it, I’d buy a copy of this book for every single person I know.”
Mommy of Three says “I think this would be an excellent resource for homeschooling, and any family that wants to remember their childhood or to pass on favorite childhood traditions to your daughters or granddaughters.”
Zen Sarcasm says “It’s hard to pick which one of the many different things the book teaches you is the coolest. Although I must say: girl pirates? Yes.”
Mrs Mogul says “For the ‘naughty’ girl they tell you how to make a stink bomb. When I was little I didn’t know how to make a stink bomb so I did it naturally and pissed off my sister. I would catch her in her room, fart and then run away. Some days I would switch things around. I would bring in a tape recorder, hide it in her room and record her stinkeroos. Ah, the memories!”
The Not Quite Crunchy Parent says “I actually was delighted with it and felt it has a place in every parent’s library – mother of girls or not. Its not just about ‘girly’ activities.”
Parent Hacks says “Some critics were all ready to pounce with their grumpy sniping and eye-rolling about “the state of parenting today” as reflected by the success of Daring Girls and Dangerous Boys. Gotta rain on someone’s parade, eh? Here’s what I have to say to those jaded editors: PFFFFFFFFT!Wipe the sneer off your face, grab a copy of one of these books, and head out into the woods with your favorite boy or girl.”
Suburban Turmoil says “The book is very careful not to be too ‘girly;’ while it does have chapters on princesses, pressing flowers, and double dutch jump roping, most of the chapters aren’t overtly feminine at all. You’ll find the rules of basketball in this book, how to build a campfire, how to be a spy, hiking, and making a willow whistle, among many, many other chapters.”
Three Kid Circus says “When I learned that Andi and Miriam were writing The Daring Book for Girls, I was like ‘Oooh oooh oooh me me me me me!’ Let’s pretend I was more sophisticated, and said something like ‘I would welcome the opportunity to review this book.’ When the book arrived, I swear to God that I had barely lifted it from the packaging when my eight-year-old daughter swooped in and snagged it and ran off.”
Friday Playdate says “But then I started reading the book, and all of my skepticism washed away in a tide of nostalgia for my own girlhood. Andi Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz have assembled a lovely compendium of Things Girls Should Know.”
Making Things Up says “And as for those who suggest that these activities appeal to parents nostalgic for their 1970s childhoods, I say: Hey, I didn’t even grow up in the seventies! And neither did my daughters. But we plan to thoroughly enjoy making peach pit rings and singing campfire songs anyway. So there.”
Uppercase Woman says “I knew I was going to love this book when I turned to the section about hiking and the authors not only discussed the basics (animal tracks, how to find a trail head) and poison ivy. They also included a photograph of the plant that works as a natural antidote to poison ivy (jewelweed;it also works wonderfully for stinging nettle burns).”
Jason, For the Love of God says “It is the perfect antidote to all those books that I did read, which attempted to teach me how to be a lady. It is also the perfect antidote to my mother who insisted that I would never find a husband if I couldn’t cook lasagna and enjoy NASCAR racing on a regular basis.”
21st Century Mom says “When I was little my mother used to tell me that there were no female mathematicians or composers because women’s brains just didn’t work like that. I believed her. She also told me that women couldn’t be pilots because their vision changed during “that time of the month” and I bought that, too…Too bad we didn’t have The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz when I was a kid because the man and my mother would have known better.”
Against All Heresies says “If you are like me you want your daughters to be curious about things, familiar and exotic, cultured, capable and well-informed. This book presents so much interesting information in an approachable format. A must have for sleepovers. The girls may even forget to turn on the TV.”
Life in the Hundred-Acre Wood says “And not only that, Daring is an encyclopedia of sorts. Need a run-down of famous women scientists? How about female pirates? Want to learn about The Bill of Rights, women spies, or Joan of Arc? It’s all in there.”
One Fish, Two Kids says “I’d like to think that I have always been a daring girl. And I know that the daughter who once stamped her feet because I wouldn’t take her to Fred Meyer to buy a parachute so she could jump off our roof is most definitely a daring girl. Or we used to be, anyway.”
So a Blonde Walked into a Review says “While reading the book, I kept saying to myself, ‘How in the world did they come up with all of this?!’ You really cannot believe how much there is to learn until you read the book yourself. Which I highly recommend you do.”
Top Rack Dishwasher Safe says “Part guidebook, part gamebook, part history book, part reference book, The Daring Book for Girls is chock-full of interesting bits and pieces I expect to come back to time and again.”
Food for Thought says “I had a great, fun childhood, don’t get me wrong, and I didn’t spend it sitting in front of the television, but I was not a daring girl. I didn’t learn how to ride a bike until I was 19, and I didn’t get my driver’s license until I was 20, or maybe 21…I wasn’t a daring girl, and I don’t have any girls in my house, but this book will keep my family good company in the years to come.”
I Won’t Fear Love says “A book that tells girls to use power tools to build a flower press and a scooter, teaches them to tie proper knots, tells them to try something 200 times (assuring them that they will get it by then), and doesn’t just instruct them on how to make a paper construction that flies but also explains what makes one of those fly will always have a soft spot in my heart.”
Mama(e) in Translation says “Now, the part that really caught my attention the most was the lemon powered radio. Wow! I want to try to do that now (of course today it’ll be hard since it’s the day before the biggest holiday in this country, but I did tease my husband, who is a scientist that he should have known about this and done it before!). I really want to know if it works, not that I doubt it will, but it just sounds so amazing.”
Mom and More says “I kid you not, I couldn’t make this up… she and a friend down the block are using the book to make their own, Daring Girl Club. They’re thinking of inviting another girl who is a number of years younger, proclaiming that they, and the book, can teach her the ways of the world… okay, I chuckle slightly, but it’s still a nice thought that they want to include a younger girl.”
Pinwheels says “The Daring Book for Girls encapsulates the very best things about being female: We are smart, we are strong, we are playful, we are kind. It’s all the things I’d want to teach my daughters. I wish I could have given this book to them; it would have been a good thing to hold on to, when I was no longer there to show them the way.”
Parenting Children says “When I first received this book I was taken by how nice looking it was, with a old fashion feel and look to it. It was gorgeous. As I read the book, I became more in love, and the memories of my own childhood flooded back. Memories that maybe would have been lost, came right back to me and I wanted to share them with my daughter.”
The Opinionated Parent says “It’s a classic, and one that should never ever be freecycled or given away. I’m saving my copy along with a threatening note stating that it had better be kept in the family for my great great grandchildren to enjoy.”
This Woman’s Work says “It’s definitely an improvement on the dusty tomes dedicated to girls that I’ve found going through boxes of books at church sales and also far more likely to catch the interest of a kid, what with the pretty aqua color, terrific illustrations, and sparkly font on the front.”
Living with Multiple Personalities says “My ten year old carried the book around for a few days and enjoyed the different sections while I would go around reading over her shoulder to find out what I was missing. I learned a better way to put my hair up into a bun with a pencil…I thought I was doing it right but this way worked even better than my old habit.”
Mombian says “I was pleased to see a good overall balance between the “tomboy†activities (e.g., how to change a tire) and the more “girly†ones (e.g., pressing flowers).”
Natural Family Living Blog says “If I had this book when I was a young girl I might have forgotten what the indoors looked like. In fact even as I read the book a few weeks ago I couldn’t help but drag out my backpacking and camping books and start planning for spring….the spirit is infectious.”
Mommy Needs Coffee says “With this book, I am happy to report that not only is the cover great– all shiny and pretty– but everything in between the covers is spot on and fantastic. This is a book that all mother’s of daughters should not only read, but tell their friends, sisters and that woman in the park that you occasionally bump into at the swings.”
A Wrung Sponge says “Some of my favorite pages are the crafty ones like how to braid a friendship bracelet, make a cloth book cover, make a willow whistle, but I also like the pages on how to read tide charts and negotiate a salary.”
Major Bedhead Reviews says “There were so many things that I used to do, that I could have done better, taken further, if only I had this book. It’s sort of like a big sister, without the annoying get-out-of-my-room-you-pest business.”
Letters to my Daughters says “An eight-year-old might have fun learning some of the more basic things in the book, while a teenager might have interest in the more advanced. And yet it would be perfectly fine for a 30-year-old or an 80-year-old woman. I guess it’s a book that a girl can grow into as she reaches each stage in life.”
Musings: Mamahood & More says “Gather your daughter. Tell her to gather her friends. Heck, gather your friends. There are good times to be had and memories to be made.”
Childs Play x 2 says “Surprisingly (at least to me, representing the male perspective), this book is pretty fascinating to read. There are great little stories about great women in history scattered throughout the book. Many of the chapters bring you back to your childhood such as being reminded of jump rope rhymes or how to make daisy chains and ivy crowns. Each chapter brings a new experience and a fun activity and really reminds one what being a young girl is and can be. As a father trying to find ways to stay connected to his little girl, I found enough of what I was looking for to make this book a real resource.”
Nothing Clever to Say says “The first thing I did was to open to the table of contents. All I could think was ‘Wow, there is a lot of information in this book’. Then I started going through the book, page-by-page. ‘Look at this!’ I would say to my daughter. ‘How fun would this be?’ I would say. That’s about when I lost the book to her.”
My Little Patch of Sunshine says “I found something new every time I picked it up over the last few weeks. I imagined what fun it would have been to receive this book for Christmas as a child and spending the next few weeks (months, years!) reading through it whenever I had a chance.”
As Yet Untitled says “The best part of the book was trying a few of the activities with my own daring girl. First, we made volcanoes out of baking soda and vinegar: I heaped up a little mound of baking soda in the bottom of a bowl, and handed her a cupful of vinegar. She poured it out—very carefully—her eyes lighting up in delight at the foaming and fizzing. And then we did it again. And again. And again. Next I tried to teach her how to jump rope, and even if she didn’t quite achieve perfect mastery, we laughed a lot as we jumped around together. And I think that’s probably the whole point.”
Production, Not Reproduction says “But what truly won me over was the fact that the authors place no confining expectations on the girls who will read it. They assume they will be equally interested in making the ultimate scooter as in learning to chain daisies. They talk about tools and hardware and basic finance without treating them as exotic topics for a girls’ book. All the while celebrating friendship and the accomplishments of real women throughout history. It’s honest empowerment instead of treacly Girl Power. In short, just what an egalitarian mom like me looks for.”
Our Gaggle of Girls says “BG, my 9 1/2 year old has used the Palm Reading information in the book to open a consultation business for penny palm readings, and she has signs all over the house.”
The Wonder Mom says “How much more formidable would I have been if I’d had a copy of The Daring Book for Girls? Would I have finally mastered the back walk-over? Would I have fended off the neighborhood bully with my Karate moves? Would I have impressed my teachers with my knowledge of the Bill of Rights and of important women in history? Would I have saved myself untold hours of math anxiety with a few easy tricks?”
So Close says “The contents page reads like a wish list for an absolutely fabulous adventure and includes chapters on knots and stitches, how to tie a sari, slumber party games, campfire songs, how to whistle with two fingers, etc. In other words, stuff that any Daring Girl would love to know.”
Her Bad Mother says “It occurred to me that daring is not necessarily all about great physical adventures. It occurred to me - rather banally, I suppose - that a daring life might just be one that is well-lived, whatever the terms.”
MojoMom says “And as I look for it, the book is missing. Rather, it’s out in the field. Probably a little warped by now by being bookmarked with a screwdriver. Instead of sitting on the shelf, the Daring Book has been outside, as my daughter and husband worked on making the ambitious scooter project (to be completed tomorrow if all goes as planned). The book has been mightily grabbed and passed back and forth at a slumber party, and pored over by my daughter in her alone moments.”
Simple Kind of Life says “It’s like a handbook to being the coolest mom or big sister ever. You can learn how to properly wash a car (and it doesn’t involve paying someone else to do it) or how to sing campfire songs, or how to do karate moves. The book can even improve my standing with my son, since it has easy steps on how to create a paper airplane. Doing the activities together will give you something to share. If your daughter opts to work alone - let her - you might be amazed at what she comes up with!”
Allied says “My favorite parts of the books were the learning activities and the games. I knew precisely NONE of the Words to Impress included in the book. I can now say, “Quit that echolalia!” and mean it! (Echolalia means repeating or echoing a person’s speech, often in a pathological way.)”
The Daily Bitch says “She said, ‘Hey mom! Do we have any lemon juice? Or onions? Because I can make invisible ink and we need to go out in the yard and look for some bird feathers–maybe some of the crow feathers because they’re big and did you know we can make quill pens out of those and oh yeah do we have any lemons? Because did you know we can use them to make a battery powered clock and did you know that there were girl pirates?! How cool! And there was this cool section on yoga and by the way, for Christmas I’d really like my own toolbox so can we go to Home Depot and I’ll show you what I need and am I allowed to use a knife? Like a swiss army knife? AND get this: there is a funny way to make up a person’s bed so they can’t straighten out their legs’!”
Writing in the Mountains says “I found a bunch of things I did as a kid-God’s Eyes, all those hand clap games, jump rope rhymes, friendship bracelets. Who could forget Bloody Mary and the old Light as A Feather, Stiff as a Board trick-a requirement for any sleepover?”
Vivirlatino says “Books are always a great holiday gift, especially for children who will certainly be overwhelmed with toys. One book that cold be prefect for a nena in your life is The Daring Book for Girls. The sparkly blue book was a hit with my 10 year old daughter.”
Never That Easy says “It strives to give its readers as a sense of perspective: that there is a world full of things to do, skills to learn, people to read about, choices to make, and all a girl has got to do is take the first step.”
Life With Heathens says “Even if you don’t have a little girl in your life do yourself a favor and go buy this book. We’re never too old to remember what it’s like to be young again and there are always things we never learned as a child that we wish we had. Personally, I’m determined to finally master a cartwheel and learn how to whistle!”
Jenn’s Journal says “I think that says a lot about the book that it’s great for such a large age range. Not to mention I’m 29 and spent a good deal of time reading it too and then my mother stole it from me and read through it too.”
Girl With Pen says “Nine is the new seventeen. There’s more focus today on doing activities not for activities sake, but to get into college. Girlhood used to be different. It used to last. ‘Part of what we wanted to do with this book,” said Buchanan, “was extend girlhood a little bit.’ Buchanan and Peskowitz are not nostalgic throwbacks. They are optimists who merely ask us to give daring a chance.”
Musings from Janette says “In an age when Bratz dolls and Hannah Montana reign, this book is a welcome throwback to a time when girlish obsessions were less superficial, more innocent, and generally active in nature. Perhaps it’s a sign of my age (ahem), but reading the book took me back to my wholesome youth, when I would play cat’s cradle with a loop of string, braid friendship bracelets, sleep outside (even if it was the backyard), and kill time playing hopscotch.”
Life as Lou says “The book was also very gender balanced. One might worry that a book with the words ‘for girls’ in the title that it is going to be all lipstick and sparkles, but it isn’t. The book includes the periodic table of elements. It includes how to make a volcano, which is something I loved to do when I was a girl. It teaches weather patterns and clouds and how to build a campfire- all things that I remember learning when I was a girl, but which might easily be forgotten and passed over in today’s world.”
Musings says “I wish I had had it when I was a little girl. I never really knew how to play hopscotch, now I do, or make a daisy chain necklace or crown, now I do.”
Brainy Mama says “Over the next few weeks, I gave each of them different colored sticky notes and asked them to mark the pages that were most appealing to them. I thought the book would be more interesting to my younger daughter, but surprisingly, it was my older daughter who ended up marking over 30 different activities she wanted to try.”
Did You See That? says “I wanted to shake her by the shoulders and thrust this book in her hand instead. To show her that life is not about being popular or fitting in. Life is about living and loving and being the very best you can be. And The Daring Book for Girls? Just may be the only life manual you or your daughter may ever need.”
Get In, Hang on reviewed the book with her daughter. Her own daring girl’s take? “With instructions on friendship bracelets, how to tell ghost story, making peach pits into rings, and four square, it would be perfect from a slumber party with friends.†And here’s what Mom had to say: “I could easily see a group of girls, of almost any age, using it as their entertainment for any get-together.â€
What Was I Reviewing? says “I did like the idea of a toolbox, which I firmly believe EVERY kid needs, boy or girl. We’re totally into our toolbox here, so much so that it’s been on the radiator cover in the front hall since we moved it. It’s just too convenient to actually put away.”
Boogiemum says “Not only was the book a sweet walk down childhood memory lane, but was a poignant reminder on how much fun our girls have lost out on in replacement for virtual pets and ipods.”
After the Bubbly says “My seven-year-old daughter has been begging me for the book since it arrived and as I look over the many pages I have marked as my favorite, I find her notes as well. She has attached a purple post-it to page 11, where she has been practicing her cursive writing. And we loved learning the correct words to Miss Mary Mack. What I love the most is that the authors have snuck in some very good *gasp* educational sections in between all the fun.”
Dwell on These Things says “To me this book is perfect. It captures all of those things that made being a girl cool in the late 1970s/early ’80s. Cootie Catchers. Sleepover Games. I honestly could not read this without thinking of reading Judy Bloom books in the backyard or flipping through an issue of Seventeen magazine with Jennifer Connelly on the cover or playing tether ball at recess.”
A Peek Inside the Fish Bowl says “I am still trying to teach myself how to whistle with two fingers. I need much more practice, because all I’m doing right now is drooling all over myself.”
A Blog Without a Bicycle says “Basically, our threesome devolved into talking over each other in excitement. I half expected us to end up in ecstatic squeals and joyful jumping, but our fancy coffee drinks (and fear of spillage) kept us in check. In discussing The Daring Book for Girls three grown women - and total strangers - ended up tapping into our inner girl and having quite a girl-y moment.”
My Life’s Scraps says “As I started reading, I found myself laughing. It ended up bringing back fond memories of my childhood. Some things that I had actually forgotten!”
Hidden Side of a Leaf says “The Daring Book for Girls is a nearly-300-page treasure trove of activities for girls, and I dare say, for any boys not put off by the sparkly cover. If, say, a sister left it lying around.”
Home Mom says “It’s a fun way to spend an afternoon with your children by reading from a book and telling them which ones you use to do. Trust me, it’ll be like the years never passed and they’ll probably want to try a few after you are done reading.”
The Bean Blog says “Do you remember slumber parties and the games we used to play? Well Andrea and Miriam have taken us right back to our nightgowns and Rainbow Brite pillow cases with their slumber party games. And the’ve included the best of the best. You know what I’m talking about. Bloody Mary and Light as a Feather, Stiff as a Board. And they don’t just tell us how to play. They also give us the history on these games. And if you’re sketchy on the details of Truth or Dare, the rules are right here.”
The Domestic Diva says “Ever since we had these books in our home they have been permanently off of our book shelves. The boys and girls of friends love to come over and read these book. It is great way to find fun and interesting projects to do with your kids on a rainy afternoon or on a lazy Saturday.”
And lastly, The New Homemaker says “And this book gives me happy chills! It starts off with a list of essential equipment every girl needs (Swiss army knife, bungee cords, and so on) and goes off higgledy-piggledy through karate moves, jump rope games, toolbox essentials–everything a girl needs to know.”
