Toys and Games Books

I bought this book simply for nostalgia's sake, and because I like to recover remnants of my childhood, even if they're someone else's copy of the remnant. I think this book helped me discover/develop what I think is mild synesthesia and major photographic memory---I can still smell the scratch-n-sniff patches in my memory, and I instantly associate it with sitting in the doctor's office waiting room when I was a child. Even before I bought the book through Amazon, I remembered the smell of moss and engine grease in the back of my mind. It's a fun bonding tool for parents and kids, and a sensory delight when shared with a young one.

Mummy Maze is a collection of mazes that are both fun and educational- the perfect combination! The mazes are a little challenging, but you get a hieroglyph for each maze you solve. Once you finish solving all of the mazes, you still have to decipher the hieroglyph.
It's really a bang for your buck because it entertains you on multiple levels. At the same time, it's a unique idea for a gift for that neighbor or nephew that already has "everything."
The product description says 6-12, but I thoroughly enjoyed Mummy Maze, even though I'm 20.
I highly recommend trying it out.

My 3 1/2 year old loves this game. It is one of the better ones we have purchased.

Arrested by the photos on its cover, I picked up Sharon Weintraub's NAUGHTIES, NUDIES, AND BATHING BEAUTIES and bought it on impulse. I opened it, and almost instantly came down with collector's fever. The author's enthusiasm is contagious, and her personal collection breathtaking. The narrative on the history and manufacture of the mostly German, mostly bisque figurines is expert and easy to follow (infectious, you might even say). But familiarity breeds covetousness when it comes to this book, so beware!

Ironically, the "nudies" and "bathing beauties," originally novelties and souvenirs bought to shock and titillate, are probably most attractive today to women, especially those with feminist bents. This is because we see them now as depicting the wonderful time when women were tossing out their corsets and wearing comfortable clothing, when we got to feel the sand in our toes,to cavort like Isadora Duncan in the sunshine. The book begins with a fascinating, lavishly illustrated chapter about that period in our history.

With the caveat that you will want to spend your kid's college tuition on what you previously might have thought of as knick-knacks...buy this book.

I first ran across this workbook in a Barnes & Noble when I was looking for ways to help a 7th grade student I was tutoring with spelling. I didn't get this book at the time, but I wish I had. So many workbooks out there teach spelling by giving lists--which is all well and good in its way, but how much better to learn some of the fundamental rules that apply to _any_ word you might need to spell? The presentation is fun--with games and pictures to reinforce the rules. A few rules are given in each lesson--enough to lay a good foundation for spelling, but never enough at one time to overwhelm the anxious speller. This is a great resource, especially for those who, like me, work one-on-one with students at varying skill levels. Besides, the best way to teach is to make learning fun.

Now in an updated second edition, Not Just A Pretty Face: Dolls And Human Figurines In Alaska Native Cultures is a striking showcase of dolls and dollmaking, exploring their role in the lives of native Alaskans from ancient ivory carvings to the modern tourist market. Filled with color photographs, Not Just A Pretty Face is both an artistic and anthropological showcase. The text surveys the history of dolls and dollmaking, and includes interviews with dollmakers as well as speculations upon the future of native arts. A lay reader-friendly showcase for anthropology shelves, Native American studies shelves, and doll collector shelves alike.

Number Practice Pages (Write-and-Learn, Grades PreK-1) is a great book to help young ones with both learning and writing numbers.

The book begins with a day-by-day list of all the celebrations throughout the month, and then a reproducible calendar for the classroom with clip art of symbols to place on the calendar.

October idea book contains reproducibles for the following topics: Autumn (it includes ideas for crafts, recipes, reproducible stand-up tree, autumn shape books, bookmarks, pencil toppers, October awards), Owl activities (with a shape book, a mask, bulletin board displays, a stand-up owl), Dinosaurs (patterns, shape book, lined paper), Spiders (mobile, spider web, crafts, report page), Skeletons (match-up activity, hanging skeleton, skull puppet), Masks (Mexican masks, animal masks, full mask pattern), Columbus Day (map, word search, ships display, puppet, hat, writing activity), Fire Safety (certificates, check list, safety plan, shape book, bulletin board display, safety rules poster), and Halloween (writing paper, word search, pumpkin and ghost pattern, finger puppets, board game, hanging bat, math practice ghost wheel, and much more).

For every holiday, you will find not only lots of creative activities but also factual information to support the learning.

Great resources for the elementary teacher!

Aside from some small errors and a missing index, this book is the definitive guide to LGB. A must have book for anyone who owns or collects LGB engines and/or cars. A very well written narrative accompanies each description. This book is timely and well done. Highly recommended!

John Cassidy is a genius. His games and activities related to all things koosh are top notch. There is nothing better in the world of koosh then to be blindfolded with some friends playing 'Where's the Koosh at.' That is one of my all time favorites and I have great memories from it. I would have never discovered this engrossing activity if it wasn't for the superior intellect of Mr. Cassidy. This game also led to my meeting of my current wives.

Another great activity for the young-uns (and the young at heart) in the world of koosh, is the all-time classic 'Koosh the Koosh.' This really keeps you on your toes in this timed event. And let me tell you, you do not want to lose this game unless you're able to handle a koosh in -22 degree whether with a bikini on. Trust me on this one kiddies.

There are many great games and activities listed, but I have a game of 'Eat the Koosh' waiting for me downstairs. (God, I love my wives).

I hope the koosh community continues to increase, as it has in the past few years. I highly recommend this book to everyone, regardless of your experience with the koosh. I thank John Cassidy for the great koosh memories, and let the kooshing continue!!