Kid Konnection: Unbored Games

Every Saturday, I host a feature called Kid Konnection -- a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. This week, I'm going to share with you a great book from the creators of UNBORED: THE ESSENTIAL FIELD GUIDE TO SERIOUS FUN.

Summary: UNBORED Games has all the smarts, creativity, and DIY spirit of the original UNBORED (“It's a book! It's a guide! It's a way of life!” -Los Angeles Magazine), but with a laser-like focus on the activities we do for pure fun: to while away a rainy day, to test our skills and stretch our imaginations-games. There are more than seventy games here, 50 of them all new, plus many more recommendations, and they cover the full gambit, from old-fashioned favorites to today's high-tech games. The book offers a gold mine of creative, constructive fun: intricate clapping games, bike rodeo, Google Earth challenges, croquet golf, capture the flag, and the best ever apps to play with Grandma, to name only a handful. Gaming is a whole culture for kids to explore, and the book will be complete with gaming history and interviews with awesome game designers. The lessons here: all games can be self-customized, or hacked. You can even make up your own games. Some could even change the world.

The original UNBORED has taken its place as a much beloved, distinctly contemporary family brand. UNBORED Games extends the franchise -- to be followed by UNBORED Adventure -- in a new handy flexibound format, illustrated in full color throughout. Soon, there will be a whole shelf of serious fun the whole family can enjoy indoors, outdoors, online and offline. -- Bloomsbury

I can't believe it's been almost two years since I featured UNBORED: THE ESSENTIAL FIELD GUIDE TO SERIOUS FUN. This book provided so many unique ways to keep your kids busy, and I thought it made the perfect gift for kids of all ages. Well, Joshua Glenn and Elizabeth Foy Larsen and back with UNBORED GAMES: SERIOUS FUN FOR EVERYONE, and this book is guaranteed to stop your kids from saying those dreaded words, "I'm bored!"

UNBORED GAMES is devoted entirely to games that challenge kids' imaginations but are also fun. The games are designed for a variety of places -- indoors, outdoors, online, and offline. And unlike UNBORED which was a pretty big book, UNBORED GAMES is a flexi-bound, soft-cover book that is the perfect size for portability -- it's about 6 inches by 8 inches.

UNBORED GAMES has more than 70 different games so there is bound to be something for everyone. The book is divided into the following chapters -- Pwnage, Home Games, Game Changers, and Adventure Games. Each section includes detailed instructions, cute drawings, and colorful photos. In addition, there are references to traditional games; however, the vast majority are brand new -- about 50 if you're counting! As a mom, I love that most of the games in this book allow children to use their imaginations rather than sit in front of a screen!

It's hard to pick just one or two games from this book, but there were a few that stood out to me and looked like fun. Of course, I'm many years from being a kid and probably have no idea what's fun today... or at least that's what my kids would tell me. The QB rescue game, which takes place outdoors with lots of footballs and kids looks like a great recess, P.E., or field day game. I also thought they Hair Dryer Ping Pong game looked challenging. Basically, you try to guide the ping pong ball into a bucket using the air from a hair dryer. (This also teaches kids the principle known as the Bernoulli Effect -- so it's fun and educational!)

UNBORED GAMES is a wonderful book to keep your kids busy and it's a great gift idea for the upcoming holiday season. Highly recommended!

Thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy of this book.

If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, please leave a comment as well as a link below with your name/blog name and the title of the book! Feel free to grab the little button too!