Why Not Knot for Fun?!
When my oldest son was just five years old, my husband and I walked the aisles of a department store doing some last minute Christmas shopping, especially focusing on the stocking stuffers. When my lovely hubby picked up a package of rope, I thought he was joking, but apparently he was seriously considering stuffing our little kindergartener's stocking with some rope. To play with. Turns out that he was WAY more in tune with our son's desires in that moment, because come present time, that length of rope was one of our little guy's favorite gifts of all. Fast forward almost 4 years, and that same rope is dirty, cut into a few pieces, but still one of the most used outdoor 'toys' in our collection.
This is where the fantastic book Why Not Knot for Fun?! A Kid Friendly Guide to Knots and Adventures comes into play. I feel like Frank T. Hoffman and Kristin Svensson created this book specifically for my son, supporting his play with rope and sticks by introducing twelve useful and easy to learn knots. The history of knots and suggestions for practical (and playful!) uses of the knots abound throughout the book, and my son has been excitedly sharing with us all the little tidbits of info that he's read in here. This spiral-bound book is chock-full of photographic illustrations of the knots, as well as joyful depictions of kids at play using knotted rope in creative and constructive ways. In a time when our children may not have a whole lot of opportunities to simply play on their own in the outdoors, this book comes as a refreshing reminder of the joys that can be found with some natural materials, a length of rope, and some independent skills!
I love the spiral bound format personally, since I've been having a blast using the 7 foot piece of rope that accompanies the book to practice my own developing rope-tying skills. It's incredibly helpful for the book to stay open on its own while you loop and twist the rope into a hitch or bowline. (Look, I'm learning the lingo!) We even found that this was the perfect book to bring when we go out to eat, as our son stays lost in the world of knot tying until the food arrives, getting in a little practice and not even noticing that the waiting time is slipping by.
If you've got a child who adores outdoor play that involves sticks and a whole lot of creativity like a certain someone I know, Why Not Knot for Fun?! makes the perfect book companion to hours of exploratory play!
Interested in winning your own copy of Why Not Knot for Fun?! The creators of this fantastic guide book are offering a copy to one of our readers. Just leave a comment here to enter the giveaway (US and Canadian residents only). We'll leave the comments open through Tuesday, June 30th and announce a winner here on Wednesday, July 1st.
The winners of a couple of our previous giveaways are
Scatter Joy: #21 Angie
Mind Your Manners!: # 54 ErmaIf you didn't receive an email asking for your address, check your spam folder, but please contact us with your shipping info within the next week.
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When Dawn's not clearing rope and sticks from her yard, she's blogging away at my thoughts exactly.
Filed under Children's Books, Dawn, ages 6 - 9, ages 9 - 12 by 
Pings on Why Not Knot for Fun?!
Comments on Why Not Knot for Fun?!
edj @ 10:40 am
Why knot indeed?
(groan…)
MJ @ 10:46 am
My kinder kids love rope. This would be great!
mj.coward[at]gmail.com
Jennifer (5 Minutes for Books) @ 1:21 pm
This is SO great! I love that your husband just KNEW that it would be a hit, and it was!
Kyle will be 5 this year at Christmas, so maybe I already have my first idea of a stocking stuffer??
Suzanne @ 2:10 pm
What a great book! I like that they have the story behind the knot- that gets me interested. My son just got into cub scouts and this looks perfect- thanks for the review!
Mozi Esmes Mommy @ 3:27 pm
i'm all for knot fun! count me in…
Jennifer @ Quiverfull Family @ 3:44 pm
Sounds like fun…and I'm knot challenged!
Terra Heck @ 4:29 pm
This would be a great book for my step-daughter. Thanks.
Janelle @ 4:30 pm
Ready to loop and knot here. thanks!
cris @ 4:42 pm
very useful to know when tying up the younger brothers…
rita @ 10:47 pm
Perfect for boys–my grandsons!
And I can see grandpa loving it, too!
Laureen @ 12:30 am
This book sounds great for my kids! I will never forget learning all sorts of knots from one of my parents' friends whenever he and his wife would come over. It was a lot of fun. (Of course, having not practiced all these years, I've forgotten how to do any of those knots, LOL! It would be fun to get a refresher!
Nancye Davis @ 12:44 am
This sounds like a fun book.
JDSG @ 8:38 am
Aw, yes, another great one. I could have fun with my neighbor's daughter with this one. She could not and I could not knowt. lol
visionquest2020(at)msn.com
Michael Capp @ 10:41 am
I'd love to win!
shannon Baas @ 11:33 am
cool book.
Gabriel J. @ 12:35 pm
Great read, great contest
Melanie Sayers @ 4:25 pm
I Would love to have this book. =D
I subscribed too
MIS
susan varney @ 5:30 pm
i love to read mverno@roadrunner.com
MRS.MOMMYY @ 7:19 pm
looks fun
Kathy Scott @ 8:12 am
This would be great to take camping.
Karen B @ 8:17 am
Wonderful idea for a book! Greatgrandson would love this.
jayne @ 9:20 am
This sounds like a great book!
Serena Ames @ 10:09 am
looks like a good read
Brandon Ralston @ 11:33 am
Enter me please. Thanks!
Angela J @ 1:16 pm
Grandpa was a sailor, so the grandkids have been instructed on some knots, they would like this
beth shepherd @ 1:23 pm
I would love to win.
Thank you for the chance
tatertot374@sbcglobal.net
Danetta @ 5:06 pm
Looks like a fun book. I would love to win it for the family to enjoy.
gwendolyn b. @ 10:36 pm
I'd love to win this for my nephew. O.K. I'd have some fun with it, too! Thanks for the chance!
Jake Lsewhere @ 3:28 am
Looks like a good book, please enter me into this drawing.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway.
jake.lsewhere[at]gmail.com
michele anne @ 8:14 am
What a fun book this sounds like…would love to give it to my nephews
Janice Wright @ 11:34 am
This sounds like an interesting book, both for me & my grandsons.
kathy pease @ 7:40 pm
Thanks for the GREAT giveaway
please count me in
bridget3420 @ 10:37 pm
Count me in
Kim @ 12:02 pm
I've been wanting this book but have been suffering from Broke Syndrome. We'd LOVE to have it around our family!!
Hannah Elise @ 2:09 pm
I loved the short lesson I got in knot-making when I was an apprentice at a ranch for a year; and while I don't have kids yet, I know that I would keep it handy for when I do. Not to mention, practice the knows myself!
Linda C @ 2:45 pm
Another great fun book.My son would love this.
Christy H. @ 3:46 pm
This does sound like a fantastic book! Please enter me.
Patti J. @ 5:41 pm
Looks like great fun! My 10 year old daughter would love it – she is very creative and loves to make something from "nothing".
Erma @ 8:56 am
I would love the chance to read this.
Lisa Taylor @ 9:45 am
My sons would love this Thanks for the chance
autie @ 11:00 am
My brothers would love this!
autielady[at]live.com
Molly K @ 12:50 pm
I think my son and husband would have a blast with this book.
Mia J. @ 2:09 pm
My daughter would love this. She can tie a good knot even when she is not trying. LOL
Michele @ 2:21 pm
how fun!!
Jennifer Hedden @ 4:45 pm
enter me
Chrysa @ 5:53 pm
Looks fun!
Ed Nemmers @ 6:59 pm
Happy Summer!
Bambi @ 7:10 pm
This book looks awesome! I know a lot of kids would be interested in learning knotwork and ropecraft, and it'd be great to practice for when mine is born!
Good luck everyone
Susan C @ 8:40 pm
This book would be fun to take camping this summer!
smchester at gmail dot com
Denise @ 12:56 am
Very nice. Thank you!!
Sue @ 1:00 am
I have four boys. They can learn to tie each other up! Thanks for sharing~
smickelson1993 at yahoo dot com
Brittany Rebello @ 1:17 am
This looks fun!
Jessica @ 2:12 am
My husband and son would love this.
Patty @ 2:21 am
My gandson would have fun with this book.
Elizabeth @ 11:56 am
This would be a fun challenge!
Jason Nickolay @ 12:52 pm
My nephew would love this. Thanks for the chance
jason(at)allworldautomotive(dot)com
Mary M @ 12:55 pm
This is great! I always said that if you give a boy a stick, a rock and a piece of string (or rope), he's happy
Lily Kwan @ 1:24 pm
Please enter me into the contest. Thanks!