Price Tag: $9.99 each
Official URL: bartking.net
Rating:

Kids will appreciate the good old-fashioned FUN in these books, and adults will appreciate the fact that, these books encourage kids to be more active.

The Pocket Guide to Games encourages physical activity, running around, jumping, and otherwise moving. Outdoor games, indoor games, quiet games, loud games, games for preschool kids, school age kids, and adults-as-well-as-kids (also known as “full grown” kids.) Parents will love the index where the different games are arranged by age range, by types of games, by the type of playing area necessary, and by the number of players needed. For additional measure, games that have a strong potential for rough play are marked with “PR” to key parents in to the fact that parental supervision is strongly recommended. 

The Guide to Mischief encourages mental activity by pushing kids to be more creative, more mischievous, more fun. Parents will appreciate that while these books might result in a few more early-morning whoopee cushions being placed on their chair at the breakfast table, this book does a fairly good job of reinforcing a few safety concepts: I will be safe, I will not damage or destroy property, I will never hurt anyone with a prank, and I will never prank for money. Parents will want to go over this book with their kids, though, and let them know that certain pranks such as wedgies might get the expelled from school. Prank smartly. 

Bart King’s “Pocket Guides” are the perfect stocking stuffer size (5.9 x 4 x 0.8 inches). They contain topics sure to delight kids of all ages. (Although younger children will need help reading these books) 

LENGTH & CONTENTS

The Pocket Guide to Games is 248 pages long and The Pocket Guide to Mischief is 272 pages long.

The “Guide to Games” contains: Introduction, Miscellaneous Active Games, Quiet Games, Contests, Feats and Tussles, and Beanbag & Ball Games. 

The “Guide to Mischief” contains: Introduction, Choosing your Target or Nemesis, Mischief Quiz!, Harmless Trickery 101 How to Defend Home and Self, Oldies but Goodies, Practical Jokes Inspired by Ancient Rome, Amusing Slights and Friendly Jibes, Spy Games, Mischief of the Rich and Famous, Inspired by the Oxford Dictionary, International Mischief, Mischievous Foods, Sporting Mischief, Duels, Bodily Mischief, Lessons from Stravinsky, Be True to Your School, Careers in Mischief, Acknowledgements, and Biography.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bart King is the author of “Big Book of Boy Stuff”, “Big Book of Girl Stuff” as well as The Pocket Guide to Mischief and the Pocket Guide to Games. He is a longtime middle school teacher, Bar lives in Portland Oregon. Legend has it that he invents new sock designs and plays in a kazoo jazz quartet, but his tendency for mischief has us wondering if he even really exists.

BOTTOM LINE

My  husband quickly grabbed the Book of Mischief and ran off with it. I’m anticipating whoopee cushions in my future. One can only hope that he abides by the safe rules of mischief. Meanwhile I’ve embarked on a few of the preschool games with my two children, much to their delight. These books are a lot of good fun for “kids” of all ages. Whoops, gotta run. My husband just gave me a drink of water with a spider in the ice cube. It’s time to retaliate!

(Haha.. Really believed me, eh? If he did that not only would I have a heart attack, I’d file for divorce!)