Long before a "dangerous" book was all the rage there was The American Boy's Handy Book by Daniel Beard, a beloved classic for generations of youngsters. Specially designed to provide loads of ideas for adventures and games both indoors and outdoors during each season of the year, The American Boy's Handy Book was originally published in 1882 and became an instant bestseller.

Now, Tuttle Publishing is bringing this much-loved book back for a new generation of boys to enjoy. If you're not too young to fly a kite or too old to enjoy a day fishing, The American Boy's Handy Book is chock full of fun activities intended just for you! There's something for every day of the year: making an aquarium, rigging and sailing small boats, camping without a tent, making a cornstalk fiddle, trapping, building a snow fort, and of course tons of other games and crafts, too.

Daniel Beard firmly believed in letting boys make their own playthings, encouraging them to value their own hard work and gain the skills needed throughout life to successfully invent, construct and dream. In this world of instant gratification with ever-younger generations coveting the ubiquitous cell phones, computers and iPods, it seems as though the imagination and sense of adventure that permeated our country's past have all but disappeared. Welcome back the joys of childhood with The American Boy's Handy Book, and prepare to make old favorites new again!

Practical, hands-on guide by one of the founders of the Boy Scouts of America contains a wealth of information and advice on how to build everything from a bark teepee and tree-top house to a log cabin and beaver mat hut. Over 332 illustrations and clear, easy-to-follow text make this an invaluable book.

Originally published in 1890, The American Boy’s Handy Book is the ultimate collection of timeless boyhood activities. Written and illustrated by America's founding father of scouting, this book shows how to have fun while being constructive, creative and daring. The American Boy’s Handy Book is packed with tips, instructions, and illustrations for things boys don't learn while playing video games and surfing the Internet. From making fireworks, shooting arrows, and fighting war kites, to building a raft, riding a sled and training a dog, the author encourages boys to be boys, be active, enjoy some innocent mischief, and develop their self confidence and character (although they probably won't realize these last two are happening).

Packed with 101 exciting, daring and even life-saving skills, The Boy's Book of Outdoor Survival introduces young thrill seekers to the amazing world of wilderness adventure and survival. Not available on Playstation, XBox or Wii, nature offers more challenges and levels of difficulty than any video game. From taking a weekend camping trip with dad to backpacking across a national park with friends, every venture into the wild presents danger—that's why the trips are such adrenaline-pumping fun!

The Boy's Book of Outdoor Survival covers skills like how to start a campfire, build a shelter, forage for food, find water, track animals, set traps, spot poisonous snakes and navigate by the stars. With its detailed instructions and colorful illustrations, it brings to life the great American wilderness while showing boys how to bravely overcome its challenges.