Customer Reviews

The Big Book of Boy Stuff

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Okay, first things first. I know this book is sure to offend some people. It contains borderline or even overtly rude tricks, gags and activities. But hey...ever listen to the average boy when he really lets loose with his friends, especially when they head towards adolesence? It is often "no holds barred" as they figure out the rules of life. You gotta cross over the line sometimes before you figure out where the line should be.
I found this book is a pretty tame outlet for energies that could express themselves in far more destructive ways. Plus, the author does balance the "gross out" factor with solid safety info, such as the section on fireworks where he cautions kids against going up to a firework after its been lit, even if it seems like a dud, suggests they have adults around, stay away from buildings or anything that could catch fire, etc.
Now for my kid's take on this book. He really enjoyed learning how to make all sorts of weird sounds, got some amazed raves when he did the magic tricks and..yes...he even grossed out his friends with the "poopy diaper" trick (peanut butter in a diaper). The latter gag was thoroughly disgusting, which pleased my son immensely.
This is definitely a great book to have around for rainy days or when boredom strikes on vacations or summer breaks.

I'm the proud mother of four boys, and though they are all quite different, when it comes to THE BIG BOOK OF BOY STUFF, it doesn't matter... they ALL want to read it at once! Talk about encouraging literacy! I've had to get multiple copies of this one. They really seem to love the "Gross Stuff" and "Magic" chapters. My third-oldest was so taken with the "Emergencies!" chapter (fun and practical information on boy emergencies), he now wants to be a fireman! I don't want to oversell this book, but I can safely say it is the overall favorite book my boys have ever agreed upon. It would be a great gift for any boy 8-15, although I can say that my husband chuckles over it as well.

Leave it to a Library Association reviewer to throw cold water on this type of fun book your kid will actually CHOOSE to pick up and read, and carry with him on vacation, and read in bed. Only a stuffy academic would denigrate this funny, quirky book as "insulting to children" and "uneven." My 9-year-old son didn't have any such complaints. He was too busy learning how to make louder noises with his armpits to care that the Libary Association found it "insulting" to him! The reading lists from school are usually filled with Zzzzz-inducing "classic" titles we have to force our kids to read - that is why they are on the required reading list! You won't have to force your son to pick up this book. Promise.

For the "boy" in all of us, this book is a must have! In addition to providing the reader with fabulous games (eg. water balloon jousting), experiments (eg. how to build a backyard rocket), activities (eg. how to get a sun tattoo)Bart entertains us with important information on topics such as girls, bullies, insults, jokes, gadgets, and my personal favorite: gross stuff (belching, B.O., barfing...you know the rest!)
Fun facts are incorporated into every section--an excerpt: "On your mark! Get set! Ouch! In the ancient Greek Olympics, anybody caught in a false start during a race was handed over to the Olympic cops (called alytes) for a public whipping."

This book is fun, fun, fun, from the first page to the last!

My son loved the book, he couldn't put it down all night on Christmas Eve, and had read the entire thing in 3 days. I went in to tuck him in on Christmas night, and he had fallen asleep reading it, instead of watching the tv. He slept with it for 3 nights, and now that school is back in session, he won't leave the house without it in the mornings, so he can share its many pearls of wisdom with his buddies at school. I have to admit, I thumbed through it, and found myself unable to put it down, smiling to myself at some of the memories it brought up.
For Christmas, I also got my niece "The big book of girl stuff" and they took turns reading bits of their books to each other, and then cracking up, all evening long. It was very nice to look out in the living room and see an 8 year old and an 11 year old with their noses stuck in books, while the PS3 sat, unused in the corner. That is about as good of a recomendation as it gets.

THE BIG BOOK OF BOY STUFF is, without a doubt, the book all parents of a boy between the ages of eight and eighty needs to buy their son. Why? Because, quite simply, if you're looking for a book that your son will read, this is it. Actually, once they start, you'll probably have a hard time prying it from their sticky, grimy, dirt-covered fingers.

The book is based, possibly loosely, and possibly even more loosely based on my own interpretation, of the three indispensable elements of a boy's world as quoted by Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a World War I veteran and founder of the Boy Scouts of America: "Fun, feeding, and fighting." As the mother of a nine-year son who also happens to be a Cub Scout (a division of the Boy Scouts up to the first half of fifth grade), I can attest that Sir Baden-Powell was totally, 100% accurate in his beliefs.

THE BIG BOOK OF BOY STUFF is divided into several "categories" which include: Activities; Dogs and Others; Emergencies; Experiments; Fireworks and Explosions; Flying Things; Fun in the Outdoors; Gadgets; Tools, and Toys; Indoor Games; Outdoor Games; Girls, Bullies, and Parties; Gross Stuff; Halloween: October 31st; Holidays; Insults; Jokes; Juggling and Yo-Yos; Magic; Making Faces! Making Sounds!; Man Food for Manhood; Practical Jokes; Rhetorical Questions; Riddles; Slang; Storytelling; Tongue Twisters Rule; Video Games; Weapons; Famous Last Worlds; and Recommended Reading. And before you pull out the parental advisory or adult supervision cards, please be assured that any and all activities that could be considered at all dangerous come complete with safety instructions, warnings, and, yes, rules for adult supervision and/or parental advisories.

This book is, in a word, fun. Fun for the boys (or girls!) that read it, and fun for the parents who watch their kids enjoy reading and experimenting. To see your child bury their nose in a book--out of desire instead of need--is a wonderful thing indeed. Although some parents will no doubt be grossed out by some of the things their children find hilarious, getting your kid to sit down and actually read a book that makes them think is well worth it.

Kudos to Mr. King for such a great book. I for one can't wait for the release of The Big Book of Girl Stuff, which is slated for release in October 2006.

I purchased this for my 9 year old nephew and 8 year old neighbor. both were immediately engrossed (and grossed out!) as was my 8 year old daughter. No one could stop laughing. some of it is clever. some of it is kid-type of gross. all of it is just plain fun.

The "professional" review of this book is way off. My boys love this book. They read it constantly and laugh at his refreshingly un-PC humor. Bart King understands boys and remembers what interested him as a youngster. I would recommend it to any boy from 8 to 60 years old.

I'm a little in awe of this book... It's designed for boys, but it's filled with so much humor and interesting history, that I am having a hard time letting go of it for a gift. The author is definitely someone who understands how to make a book fun to read, and there are many activities in here that I really want to try. All in all, there is just ONE wonderful thing about this book: EVERYTHING!

My 10 year old son and 11 year old nephew could NOT put this book down all weekend! My son takes it to school to show his friends and now I'm getting an extra copy for my nephew. They LOVE this book! This should be a hit for any boy!