Dangerous Book for Boys (Conn and Hal Iggulden) & Daring Book for Girls (Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz)

In this time of computers, video games and cell phones, children don't get to be children. They become obsessed with these machines, and they need to take a break. "The Dangerous Book for Boys," and "The Daring Book for Girls" have so many fun things to do that you really forget about the Xbox sitting in your living room. These books teach you how to get outside and have some fun, from how to build go-carts, to how to make a fort in your back yard. Although the titles deceive this, both books are appropriate for whichever gender. After reading "The Daring Book for Girls," I learned some great jump rope chants, which came in handy when my friends and I got tired of jump roping to the classic Cinderella chant. My dad and my brother learned how to make paper water bombs (which I had to look out for!) from "The Dangerous Book for Boys." I only have one complaint. In "The Dangerous Book for Boys," there is a page on how to impress girls, which offends me. "The Daring Book for Girls" has a page about boys, but it says that boys can be good friends. Other than that, I think that both of these books are great for boys and girls ages 8 and older.