Brook Farm Books

Kids’ Container Gardening: Year-Round Projects for Inside and Out, by Cindy Krezel. This is a great idea, well presented, with a good variety of small projects that kids can do either by themselves or with you. It starts with some good advice and goes on to tell you about a wide variety of containers you can use and interesting ideas for growing things in them. Have you ever heard of a cocktail garden? It’s just one of the projects here, along with vegetable hanging baskets, Halloween hats, sand art terrariums, a small fountain, and others. Ages 9 to 12. Cover price $14.95. $13.00 from Brook Farm Books.

MARBLE GAMES. I always had marbles that I loved, but I never knew what to do with them. Now I do. This is a collection of 50 marble games. Line drawings illustrate the text. Ages 6 to 12. $4.50.

PARLOR GAMES. A collection of 50 unique parlor games that are played cooperatively. Amusing and challenging games for small and large groups. Little or no equipment needed, for a quiet evening or lively party. Ages 12 to adult. $4.50.

SPORTS MANUAL. Features 60 co-op sports games for ages 10 to adult. Detailed manual for athletics, gymnastics, team sports, stick and ball events, co-op billiards, and horseshoes, plus suggestions for running a co-op field day. 36 pages. Illustrated. $4.50.

***GAMES MANUAL*** Many times when we didn’t have a birthday to celebrate and the kids wanted a party, we would have an “unbirthday party” and invite everyone’s friends. Each person brought a small gift costing less than $5 that would do for a girl or a boy. We played games and had ice cream and cake — complete with lots and lots of candles. Everyone helped to blow out the candles (picture it!). I wish we’d had this collection of games to use. This book has 170 co-op games and activities for ages 3 to 12. Little or no equipment needed; good for small or large groups. Most games can be played indoors or out. You’ll never do better than this for price or value. $4.50.

ZEN BLOCKS is a cube game for thinking and intuitive players. Easy games for the young and tough games for teens and adults. Many solutions to this puzzle. A good logic game. Play alone or with as many as 13. Ages 6 to adult. $29.00. Click on the image to see it enlarged.

MAZE. A cooperative form of chess. An intricate strategy game that is different every time you play. Wizards can make a veritable study of this game. Beginners can play an easier game. Basically a two-person game, but can be played alone. I find it fascinating. Ages 12 and up. $35.00. Click on the image to enlarge it.

UNTRIVIA. Finally! A game that asks practical questions about child-rearing, gardening, everyday law, travel, health, and more. It’s fine if you think you have the answer and maybe better if you discuss it before deciding. This is more the way our family always approached Trivial Pursuit. This game has “goof” tokens! A relaxing conversational game for older teens and adults. Highly recommended. Ages 12 to adult. 2 to 12 players. $24.00. Click on image for a larger view.

NEW AMERICA. Be part of a research and development team to redesign the socioeconomic system before it’s too late. The focus is on energy and resources, but many other fields are explored. Very suitable for thinking friends. Designed to provoke discussion. 2 to 4 players. $30.00. Ages about 12 to adult. Click on image to enlarge the picture.

OUR TOWN requires a higher level of strategies. Develop your city’s economy and avoid going bankrupt. You must decide what will work best as a private enterprise and what will be best cooperatively owned and operated. Rules for easy play and for a more advanced game. 2 to 6 players. $30.00. Ages 9 to adult. Click on the game image to enlarge the picture.