I dare you not to like it

When The Dangerous Book for Boys came out earlier this year, I was unmoved by the "but what about the girls?" outrage. Maybe because the kid population in my household is evenly split between the pink team and the blue team, so I have my own little stereotype experiment under my nose every day; but I don't have a problem with a book declaring itself "for boys."

Still, it seemed like an awesome resource, so I was pleased to be given the chance (via the Parent Bloggers Network) to review The Daring Book for Girls by Andrea J. Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz.

Much like the boy book (the authors credit it for inspiring the concept and design, but are not affiliated with them), it's really less about danger and daring than about those tidbits of information, instruction, and inspiration that your girl might not pick up in school or at the playground -- but that are really cool for her to know. How to make a sunflower hut? Page 98. Or a peach pit ring? Page 200. Fourteen ways to play tag? Page 13. The story of Cleopatra? Page 159.

As a once-upon-a-time girl myself, I wallowed in nostalgia as I flipped through the pages. Chinese jump rope, friendship bracelets, cootie-catchers (we called them fortune-tellers), slumber party games, even Greek and Latin roots (by far the most useful thing I learned in 9th grade) -- they're all here, and I know I'll have fun sharing them with my daughter as she gets older. While not every page of The Daring Book is a hit (Robert's Rules?!), a great many are. All are written in a clear, matter-of-fact, encouraging manner (although a girl would have to be pretty mature to read this on her own) and the diagrams and illustrations are helpful.

Yes, the title says "for girls." And yes, a lot of the stuff inside is stereotypically girly, like handclap games and daisy chains. But a lot of it isn't. You can use this book to learn about pirates or tools or karate or spies or climbing trees too.

Best of all, The Daring Book for Girls is a perfect jumping-off point: for conversations with your favorite girl about your own childhood and her interests and dreams; for further reading; for explorations, experiments, and adventures. Go on -- I dare you!

What I liked: The book is a reference, and it looks and feels like one -- classic, and sturdy, but without being stodgy. It's inclusive and inspiring and fun.

What I didn't: I repeat: Robert's Rules of Order? I guess the authors were trying to make a point about knowing how to run meetings efficiently and effectively; and who doesn't remember setting up a secret club with officers and bylaws and passwords and all that good stuff. But seven pages? Seems like a waste of space. I'm sure you'll find something you think doesn't belong, and something that was left out; but overall, Buchanan and Peskowitz cover quite a lot of ground. (I'd love to hear what you'd include in a book like this, actually!)

Who it's for: Moms, grandmothers, aunts, big sisters, and friends of tween girls. Read it together, and let them explore the book on their own too. Better yet: Keep this and The Dangerous Book for Boys side-by-side on your shelf, and refer to them both with your favorite girls and boys.

Listen up: Kristen will be interviewing the authors on her podcast this Wednesday, November 14, at 9 p.m. Eastern time.