Parents' Guide to The Double Dangerous Book for Boys

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Common Sense Media Review

Carrie Kingsley By Carrie Kingsley , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 10+

Fun info, skills, projects, and more for kids of any age.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 10+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

What's the Story?

THE DOUBLE DANGEROUS BOOK FOR BOYS is for boys and girls of all ages, covering a wide variety of interests, life skills, games, folklore, history, and just about anything else under the sun. Written like an encyclopedia covering topics such as history, poetry, law, sign language, and navigation, this fun-loving book also teaches readers how to pick locks, make a cup of coffee, write a thank-you letter, and play chess. It's packed with colorful charts, maps, and illustrations, so those wanting to learn how to start a fire with a battery, for example, have a visual aid to help them along.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say : Not yet rated

It's too bad the title is so gender specific, because this book has something for everyone. Hopefully most readers and parents will grab it for the content inside and not avoid it because of the words on the cover. It's tough for an encyclopedia to present information in an engaging way, and The Double Dangerous Book for Boys succeeds by varying the topics quickly. By switching from questions about the law right into how to make a rubber band gun, readers can skim or dig deep throughout the book. The illustrations and graphics help keep readers' attention through the denser topics, and fun skills like card games, solving the Rubik's cube, making a stink bomb or a pencil catapult, and much more will have readers marking pages and running to grab supplies. While not an easy read for elementary school readers, it has loads of topics that will grab middle schoolers, and the reading level is a better fit for them, too.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about their favorite chapters in The Double Dangerous Book for Boys. What was the most unexpected topic?

  • Which "practical" topic was most interesting to you?

  • Which building project would you most like to try, and why?

Book Details

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