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Kids Shenanigans: Great Things to Do That Mom and Dad Will Just Barely Approve Of by the editors of Klutz Press. Klutz Press (1992).


Remember that show-off kid in 4th grade, the one who could hang a spoon from his nose? Everything you need to be that kid is here - the Grape Through Your Head Trick, the Upside-Down Water trick, instructions for hand-whistling, and even supplies and directions for making your own whoopie cushion. Big Learning News would like to go on record as fully supporting this brand of spunky, goofball fun. Although it's not always clear what a kid is learning from it, you can just tell it's good stuff. If that's not enough to convince you, I'll add that kids who resist reading probably can't resist this book.

My favorite activity in the book is "How to Sneak Around," The four illustrated pages of practical advice include how to walk quietly on squeaky stairs (you walk close to the wall and try to support some of your weight on the railing and wall), indoor and outdoor sneaking, choosing high-quality hiding places, and more. Another fun essay explains how to send odd objects through the mail without any packaging. Then there's the page of kid facts, including "Trying to read in the dark does not ruin your eyes."

The book may be a little hard to find. It has been in print for a long time, and I don't think I've ever seen it new in a store (I got mine at a second-hand book shop). But it is widely available online - a real gem from the Klutz Press lineup.

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