Other editions of book The American Girl's Handy Book: Making the Most of Outdoor Fun

Explore, hike, discover, be crafty and have fun with friends or alone, indoors or outside! Written for children in 1893, and valuable for both kids and adults today, here's a magical cornucopia of projects, devices, toys, gifts, dolls, recipes, decorations, perfumes, wax and clay modeling, oil and water-color painting and games, all with clear and practical directions for how to make and play them.Vintage Americana by the Beard sisters, two of the founders of the girls scouting movement (when they weren't campaigning for women’s rights). As Anne M. Boylan writes in her foreword, “Healthy and spirited, [the American Girl] thinks nothing of taking a ten-mile ‘romp’ through woods and fields with a group of friends, and collects flowers and leaves for preservation or presentation to friends and relations.Above all, however, the Beards’ girl is handy. She can make a hat rack, a screen, or a bookshelf; fashion a macrame hammock or a cornhusk doll; and draw, paint, sculpt, or decorate a room…By emphasizing what girls can do, The American Girl's Handy Book presents a portrait of girlhood that is vigorous, active, and full of possibilities.”

HIS is the children’s own day, and no assumption of dignity on the part of their elders can deter them from exercising the privileges granted to them by acknowledged custom and precedent. “April fool! April fool!” cries my little nephew, as he dances with delight to see his aunt walk out of the room with a piece of white paper dangling from a hooked pin, attached to her dress. “April fool! April fool!” shout the children in the street, thus announcing the success of some practical joke. “April fool!” laughs everyone at the table, when some unfortunate bites into a brown, wholesome-looking cruller, only to find it a delusion and a snare, the coat of a cruller, but the inside of cotton. “April fool! April fool!” is what even the little sparrows seem to chirp, as with a “s-w-h-e-r-r” they sweep down from the tree and, frightening away the kitten, take forcible possession of her bone. What does all this mean? Why is the first day of April called “All-Fools-Day,” and when or where did the custom of the day originate? Who can tell? No one seems to know. Even the derivation of the word April does not appear to have been definitely settled, and this saucy month, with her mischievous tricks and pranks, her surprises and mysteries, fools and puzzles our wisest men. Through many centuries the observance of All-Fools-Day has descended to us. In many climes and many countries this day is chosen as the proper time for playing tricks on the unsuspecting. “Festum Fatuorum,” or “Fools’ Holiday,” is what it was called in England at the time of the arrival of the early Christians in that country. Easily caught like the mackerel, which are plentiful on the French coast in April and are said to be deficient in understanding, the April fool in France derives his name from that fish, and is called “Poisson d’Avril” or “April Fish,” and again, “Silly Mackerel.” From the cuckoo, a bird that does not know enough to build its own nest, the appellation of “gowk” is taken, and is given to the foolish one in Scotland who allows himself to be duped on this day.

For good old-fashioned fun, nothing beats this 1887 gem! Truly a "handy" book, it shows girls how to make their own amusements, with illustrated explanations that range from hobbies such as needlework and painting to suggestions for planning picnics and playing games. Hundreds of simple and timeless ideas and activities include creating handmade dolls, preserving wildflowers, weaving a rope hammock, building bookshelves, and making gifts for friends and family. The projects, which require only common household items, encourage young imaginations and foster creativity. In addition to traditional arts and crafts, the well-rounded offerings include hiking and other outdoor adventures.Authors Lina and Adelia B. Beard wrote and illustrated many children's books and were instrumental in founding the Campfire Girls. This volume is a companion to The American Boy's Handy Book, written by the Beards' brother, Daniel. Its sensible, self-assured tone outlines a lively portrait of girlhood that's full of possibilities. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and camp counselors will find it a treasury of inspiration for wholesome, fun-filled activities.

Each summer, millions of children complain, "There's nothing to do." Originally published in 1889, The American Girl's Handy Book resoundingly challenges this age-old dilemma by providing a huge number of ideas for fun and instructional projects for young girls. It includes plans for April Fool's parties and jokes, transplanting wildflowers and preserving or pressing them, Easter games and activities, instructions for making a lawn tennis net and the rules of the game, how to make a hammock, corn husk and flower dolls, instructions for making various fans, Halloween parties, making a telephone, painting in water or oil colors, making models in clay and wax, making picture frames, and suggestions for winter games and activities! As with its companion, The American Boy's Handy Book, the girl's book is divided into seasons ensuring fun will be had all year round.

For good old-fashioned fun, nothing beats this 1887 gem! Truly a "handy" book, it shows girls how to make their own amusements, with illustrated explanations that range from hobbies such as needlework and painting to suggestions for planning picnics and playing games. Hundreds of simple and timeless ideas and activities include creating handmade dolls, preserving wildflowers, weaving a rope hammock, building bookshelves, and making gifts for friends and family. The projects, which require only common household items, encourage young imaginations and foster creativity. In addition to traditional arts and crafts, the well-rounded offerings include hiking and other outdoor adventures.Authors Lina and Adelia B. Beard wrote and illustrated many children's books and were instrumental in founding the Campfire Girls. This volume is a companion to The American Boy's Handy Book, written by the Beards' brother, Daniel. Its sensible, self-assured tone outlines a lively portrait of girlhood that's full of possibilities. Parents, grandparents, teachers, and camp counselors will find it a treasury of inspiration for wholesome, fun-filled activities.

Each summer, millions of children complain, "There's nothing to do." Originally published in 1889, The American Girl's Handy Book resoundingly challenges this age-old dilemma by providing a huge number of ideas for fun and instructional projects for young girls. It includes plans for April Fool's parties and jokes, transplanting wildflowers and preserving or pressing them, Easter games and activities, instructions for making a lawn tennis net and the rules of the game, how to make a hammock, corn husk and flower dolls, instructions for making various fans, Halloween parties, making a telephone, painting in water or oil colors, making models in clay and wax, making picture frames, and suggestions for winter games and activities! As with its companion, The American Boy's Handy Book, the girl's book is divided into seasons ensuring fun will be had all year round.

Each summer, millions of children complain, "There's nothing to do." Originally published in 1889, The American Girl's Handy Book resoundingly challenges this age-old dilemma by providing a huge number of ideas for fun and instructional projects for young girls. It includes plans for April Fool's parties and jokes, transplanting wildflowers and preserving or pressing them, Easter games and activities, instructions for making a lawn tennis net and the rules of the game, how to make a hammock, corn husk and flower dolls, instructions for making various fans, Halloween parties, making a telephone, painting in water or oil colors, making models in clay and wax, making picture frames, and suggestions for winter games and activities! As with its companion, The American Boy's Handy Book, the girl's book is divided into seasons ensuring fun will be had all year round.

If Tom Sawyer had been a girl, Aunt Polly would certainly have seen to it that she had a copy of this book and with a heartfelt blessing. Its a magical cornucopia of projects, devices, toys, gifts, dolls, recipes, decorations, perfumes, wax and clay modelling, oil and water-color painting and games, all with clear and practical directions for how to make and play them. Vintage Americana by the Beard sisters, two of the founders of Girl Scouting in the United States. "In the Beard sisters' version, 'the American girl' ranges in age from eight to eighteen. Healthy and spirited, she thinks nothing of taking a ten-mile 'romp' through woods and fields with a group of friends, and collects flowers and leaves for preservation or presentation to friends and relations. Above all, however, the Beards' girl is handy. She can make a hat rack, a screen, or a bookshelf; fashion a macrame hammock or a cornhusk doll; and draw, paint, sculpt, or decorate a room. The American Girls Handy Book, in short, by emphasizing what girls can do, presents a portrait of girlhood that is vigorous, active, and full of possibilities."