American Boy's Handy Book

If you were to hear me extol the virtues of this book to someone, the phrase that you would most likely hear would be, "You can't find books like this anymore!" And it is information that you are unlikely to learn even in Boy Scouts. Flipping randomly through the pages, I find things like: War Kites, How to Stock a Fresh-Water Aquarium, How To Make Puppets and Puppet Show, Practical Taxidermy for Boys, Traps and Trapping, and my personal favorite, Home-Made Hunting Apparatus (whip bow looking the coolest of these). It's contains the high-interest activities that an adult remembers doing in their childhood, and parents wish that their kids would get out-of-doors to try out. Also, it is handily divided into Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter activities, so they never have an excuse to stay inside and watch TV.

Of course, a 19th century book is going to have some outdated information and materials: it's hard to find a barrel stave these days. It also has 1800's regard for safety; were safety glasses even available back then? Since you're experimenting with whip bows and working with sharp glass for war kites I'm guessing you'll want some basic protection. This book also assumes a good deal of room for some activities: it is hard to build and sail a raft without some space.

But the shortcomings are few, with the outdated terms easily deciphered, old materials fairly substitutable, and a pair of work gloves and eye protection being all that most projects require in the way of safety. All in all, any boy who has some space and maybe a little parental guidance will have a blast all through the year with this book. It should give electronics a run for their money, and help kids remember that the outdoors is fun for any adventurous boy. As the author says in the preface: "Let boys make their own kites and bows and arrows; they will find double pleasure in them, and value them accordingly, to say nothing of the education involved in the successful construction of their home-made playthings." ~ Mark