Kids' Book of Fun & Games

Adele Ashby was the former editor of Canadian Materials for Schools and Libraries.

Rudi McToots is one of The Boinks, a children’s rock band. The group also does writing and illustration workshops in schools, during which McToots is the “human video” who draws pictures to fit each song. He has put together this activity book, which is crammed full of ideas, some old, some new. Chapter headings such as “Why Knot” (on string games), “Bored Games” (board games), and “Scrap Happy” (on “creative recycling”) hint at the tone of the text, whose punny humour is sometimes a little forced. There is an excellent chapter on co-operative games. Each chapter is introduced by a short comic-strip history of its activity, and there are lots of illustrations.

Readers are invited to become members of the Rudi McToots Adventure Club and receive official buttons, membership cards, and a newsletter. At $4.95, Kids’ Book of Fun & Games is a steal. Buy multiple copies for your institution and copies for all your young friends.