I obviously have very little understanding of the male gender.  I've known this for years.  I grew up in an almost all chick household, with just myself, Debbles, Indiana Mimi and Gigi.  I had guy friends, but I didn't understand them.  I had a few male teachers, but I didn't understand them either.  I've read male authors, whom I've enjoyed, but have not completely understood.  I met and married Big D.  I love him, but often he's beyond my comprehension.  Harrison regularly completely boggles my mind.

Recently he's been reading the above book that he received last year for Christmas.  I'm all about encouraging kids to embrace their genderness, you know, boys will be boys and all of that kind of stuff.  Now, while I'm generally not in favor of banning books, this one may be banned from our personal library.

Harrison has been harassing me for the last few days...and yes, I did say harassing...over this particular page...

First, he wanted to know what 'essential' meant.  I, not having a clue why he was asking, told him that it meant necessary.  So now he has been doing an inventory of what he has and doesn't have.  Thus far he has assessed that he's fairly well equipped to be a dangerous boy, with the exception of a Swiss army knife and a box of matches.  He actually once possessed a small pocketknife, but we eventually had to confiscate it due to the dangerous activities (that involved blood and guts) with it.  I've never even considered handing him over a box of matches.  I like my house too much to do that.  And may I take the moment to applaud the Igguldens for having the foresight to include band-aids on their list, since they are requiring young boys to carry around knives and fishhooks and needles.

Harrison's also been pretty obsessed with this page...

But don't worry, the Igguldens shortly follow these instructions with this...

I now feel much, much better that my son has the desire to construct lethal weapons.

The other day Harrison was playing innocently outside with a very blunt-edged football, so I sat down with this dangerous book to find out what else my son would be learning as he continued with this reading material.

Girls?!?!  He's eight years-old for Pete's sake!  Does he really need advice on picking out the perfect bouquet of flowers or on not signing his handmade Valentines because girls like the mystery?  Well, I did find this section useful...

Avoid being vulgar.  Excitable bouts of windbreaking will not endear you to a girl, just to pick one example.

Oh, Mr. and Mr. Iggulden, just visit our home any time, and you can witness all kinds of these sorts of vulgar acts that are not endearing to girls.  You could leave armed with enough research to write your future bestseller, The Vulgar Book for Boys.

Then there was this page...

Do the authors realize they have just endangered every cat, dog, squirrel and child under the age of two within 100 yards of our home?

And then there was this...

I can't tell you how relieved I am to know that his allowance will be well spent!

At this point, I had had enough, and was searching for my own box of matches, to rid our home of this dangerous book, when I happened to spy this page...

Ah, well, that's nice.  The English teacher in me is a little slower in her bent on destroying the offending book.

Then I saw this..

It seems that the Igguldens are fans of classic poetry, including such writers as Robert Frost, Walt Whitman, and Shelley.  Hmmm...impressive.

Lastly, I saw this...

Okay, Igguldens, your book is spared.  I guess there is enough worthwhile and safe and interesting within these pages to make up for the few really dangerous things that you encourage.  However, I would like to point out that I believe my son was already dangerous enough before your book came along...

And so with that, I go to put my matches....what's this?....wait a minute...no, it can't be....

*sigh*

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Posted by teachingmisssmartypants

:)

I enjoyed that! (And I'm curious about the girls' version.)

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Posted by jenn4him

We were given them both for Christmas last year as well. Thankfully, my boys are too busy with Legos to notice them much.
Jenn

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Posted by proverbsmomof3

The kids got them for Christmas last year also. My son has gone through it several times. He has made the bow and arrow, which was quickly dimantled and has attempted some of the other 'boy' projects in the book. My daughter, on the other hand, has just read various sections and moved on. She comes back to it every now and again. I should have know by the title that it would be one of my sons favorite books. Hang in there. Maybe you'll have another daughter. ;)

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Posted by Arby

Not Brownie.

Try www.mphomeschool.com/blog

I'm doing too many things at one time these days...

Austen? Too much hype. I have a difficult time reading a book or watching a movie that gets pushed at me over and over again. Eventually, I will watch Gone With the Wind or read it, but I've heard far too much "You HAVE to read this book" stuff. That's why I didn't watch Casablanca until the Boss and I were dating (what is it with you women getting your men to watch things they otherwise wouldn't watch?) and then I fell in love with the character of the police chief. That's a role I want to play on stage. Oh, eventually I'll get around to reading Austen, after my mind is gone and it won't do too much damage.

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Posted by quietcajun

My Hannah picked the girl book out for herself a few months ago and carries it around! :)

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Posted by sadie423

I've had numerous recommendations for that book. One of these days I'll get around to getting it from the library....

Did you say Wed? As in this Wednesday? I thought you had a few weeks to go still...For some reason I had December in my mind as your due date?

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Posted by brownie

I picked the "Daring" book out for Blondie - and then returned it 'cause I realize I was enjoying it more than she was.... maybe I'll take another look at it..

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Posted by sixfolks

I know what you mean about not understanding boys. It wasn't uncommon when my older guys were 4 and 5 for me to give the hubby a call and ask, "Is ________ normal?" Now I've grown used to crazy behavior.
Corey

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Posted by loreo

and liked it. I guess a lot of it has to do with a dad who is still in the army. DS has a total fascination with weapons from muskets to light sabers. However, as I as reading your post, I was thinking " I need to tell her the girl book isn't near as good." They are different authors and it shows. There were just a few things that didn't need to be in there- but enough to keep us from buying the book.
Have a great week!

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Posted by CarpeBanana

I have debated the merits of this book for Mr Music, but he seems to be doing pretty well on the being a boy thing without specific instruction.

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Posted by CrossView

My youngest daughter wants the Boy's version. *sigh*

She's guessing that the one for Girls can't be all that exciting....

And Harrison's does look like fun! =P

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Posted by Sandpiper

My son has that book too! I love the picture with all of the swords and knives strapped to his back, my sons do the same thing!!

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