The Good Fun! Book

Gr 3—6—For each month of the year, Duncan and Issa suggest a party with a service theme. For example, they suggest making Valentines for children at a local hospital in February, cleaning up a park for Earth Day in April, or making jack-o-lanterns for a nursing home in October. The ideas are realistic, age appropriate, and thoughtful. The authors have done a good job mixing fun with function. Some of the activities are geared for a large group, like a school class, while others would work with a Cub Scout troop or a birthday party. Almost all the projects require an adult leader to contact and coordinate with a community organization like a nursing home or food bank. Each plan contains two ideas, a treat recipe, a craft, and information about a national charity related to the theme. The book is illustrated with child-friendly color cartoons featuring youngsters doing good deeds. The Kid's Guide to Service Projects (Free Spirit Publishing, 1995) has more service ideas, but they are not organized in a party-plan format. This is a great resource for any school or public library.—Donna Cardon, Provo City Library, UT