Tag, Toss & Run

November 15, 2012

Outdoor advocates Tukey (The Organic Lawn Care Manual; former host, People, Places, and Plants) and Rowell (The Women Who Raised Me) here offer parents (and children) a solid directory of 40 outdoor activities that any merry band of kids should learn as a rite of passage. From traditional lawn games, such as horseshoes and badminton, to games sure to tickle a parent's nostalgia (ghost in the graveyard, crab soccer, etc.), each entry includes a brief and intriguing look into the game's history, setup, equipment, recommended ages, number of players, and a bullet list of of rules. Ranging from two to four pages, the directions are simple enough for second graders and up to read and understand independently, and they include interesting sidebars, such as games that were banned, alternate names, and historical photos and charming illustrations. VERDICT Offered as a "time-honored way for children to reconnect, not only with nature, but their communities, their comrades, their families, and their sense of self," this book is recommended for all neighborhood tribes.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2012
In a time when babies play with smart phones and toddlers know their way around an iPad, this wonderful volume is offered up as an antidote to nature deficit disorder. Rules, variations, and trivia about and brief histories of 40 classic lawn games are showcased here, including badminton, bocce, double Dutch, ghost in the graveyard, and Wiffle ball. Charming, inexpensive, and suitable for all ages, this should find a home in both ready-reference and circulating collections in all types of libraries. Where else can you find definitive information on red light, green light?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)