Books Offer Children Healthy Alternatives
Not often do we meet an 11-year-old published author. After attending a DARE program (Drug Abuse Resistance Education), Jennifer Hulme of Fort Worth, Texas, decided to write a book to help kids find positive ways to socialize in peer groups, rather than join gangs. The result is “Join the Club: The Fun Guide to Starting Your Own Club” ($12.95, Summit Publishing) based on Hulme’s three years of active participation in clubs.
Her book covers all the basics, including some unusual club ideas to encourage community service such as The Summer Helpers Club and The Baby-sitters Club. For pure fun, she describes The Cowboy Club or The Baseball Watchers Club.
Hulme presents more than 50 ideas for clubs along with tips for attracting members, forming goals, building camaraderie and raising funds.
Royalties from Hulme’s book will go to the DARE program. To order, call (800) 875-3346.
‘Kids Camp!’: For families heading into the wild, pack a copy of Laurie Carlson and Judith Dammel’s book, “Kids Camp! Activities for the Backyard or Wilderness” ($12.95, Chicago Review Press).
A few of the 100 hands-on outdoor activities include learning to knotcraft, weave a pine needle basket, use rocks to make a sun clock or start an insect collection. Even backyard camp-outs will be memorable with “Kids Camp!” games, recipes and projects.
For ages 4-12, “Kids Camp!” is available at major bookstores or by calling (800) 888-4741.
Activities galore: For enjoyable summer days, there is something for everyone in “Green Beans & Tambourines” by Jennifer Storey Gillis ($9.95, Storey Communications).
Her book takes children from the garden to the kitchen to the beach and everywhere in between.
Cooking creations include banana boats, zebra pops and peanut butter pies. Or, make sand sculptures, sparklers, pinwheels and tambourines. For car trips, the book includes crossword puzzles, word searches and games.
To order, call (800) 441-5700.
Culinary discoveries: “The Healthy Start Kids Cookbook” ($9.95, Chronimed) is an ideal book for the beginner food enthusiast. The first section educates the child on the food pyramid, nutrition, cooking measurements, kitchen tools, safety and cooking definitions, written in fun, simple prose.
The second section gives 90 kidtested recipes covering all three meals and snacks. Tasty treats include Bananarama Muffins, Sorry Charlie Sailboats, Super Snack bars, Alphaghetti and more. Each recipe contains nutritional information as well.
To order, call (800) 848-2793.
Unglued from the tube: Parents who want their children to spend less time in front of the television (or computer) and more time reading, playing and exploring can find support in Steve and Ruth Bennett’s book, “Kick the TV Habit” ($6.95, Penguin Books).
Rather than being authoritarian, the Bennetts give parents advice on how to forge a TV-reduction partnership that enables kids to selfregulate their viewing habits. They also teach kids to be “media literate” - or critical viewers - so they’ll choose quality programs.
Additionally, the book provides more than 100 TV-free activities for kids of all ages. To order, call (800) 253-6476. The Family Track is a weekly column of notes and information for families. Send items to Lynn Gibson, Features Department, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615, or fax (509) 459-5098.
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