I was so excited to be selected to receive a copy of this book through the Early Reviewer's Group program... a year ago!

For 2 1/2 years, I volunteered MANY hours of time to my son's private school for students who have multiple learning disabilities due to physical and/or emotional reasons. For the majority of my volunteer time, I established formal libraries for both the students and the staff.

In November 2006, I had been looking for a low-cost software that could handle both general public and targeted market books. The software also needed to have some undefined fields that could be sorted on or targeted. If it could interface with larger libraries and other book sources for quicker and easier additions, I would be thrilled. It needed to be cheap, as I was buying it and donating it to the school. I was shocked at the prices out there - the lowest I could find was close to $1,000/year with annual renewal fees. One day, I was googling away and apparently keyed in the right words as LibraryThing.com came up as a suggested website. My software search was over! This I could afford! The money I didn't have to spend, I bought over 1,000 books to donate to both libraries. I was also able to purchase two separate library book barcode label series and protectors. [Please take a look at LindenGroveSchool and LindenGroveSchool1 on LT. There are other smaller LGS accounts on LT being utilized for the school too.]. It's a work-in-progress and a lot yet to be done, but I'm proud of what we've been able to achieve so far. FYI: the school has 40 students and a staff of 25.

So, why am I telling you this, when I'm supposed to be sharing a book review with you? I "donated" this book to LGS the minute I received it, as the staff there is constantly looking for different activities to stimulate and modulate sensory actions and responses. There are so many different 'needs' trying to be met at the school, and on a shoe-string budget. Unfortunately, this book was given directly to a staff member who subsequently left the school in 2008, and it was not returned. Needless to say, the "review" I had asked her to provide me with, after several staff had had a chance to see and use the book, was NOT realized and never posted on LT.

Please let this be a lesson to any of you interested in being a LibraryThing Early Reviewer's reviewer: don't lend out or donate a "review" book you have received without first reading it yourself. I made the mistake of depending on someone I thought more eminently qualified to review the book and was let down.
I will no longer "request" a 'review' book that I feel I am not personally qualified to assess, or one I may not be interested in reading, so that I'm not put into a situation where the writer/editor/publisher gives me a free copy of a book they are looking for feedback on.

This book is another in the “Smart Fun” series of game books for ages 4 and up. Other titles include 101 Music Games for Children, 101 Games for Children, 101 Improv Games for Children and Adults, and 101 More Life Skills Games for Children. This title in the series was written by former teacher Alison Bartl, and provides ideas and suggestions targeted toward easing the stresses faced by today’s school-aged children.

The introductory section of the book offers some brief insights as to why today’s student may be in need of some stress relief in his or her day. In addition to the brief introductory notes, the book’s beginning pages include the useful chart common to the Smart Fun Books identifying the appropriate group size for each game and a list of the icons used to describe key components of each game. The icons indicate the suitable age range, prop needs, and other features for each game. Thus identified, icons will appear at the top of each game’s page in the book to assist the reader in quickly locating a suitable activity. Each game suggestion takes approximately 1 page to describe; some are as brief as one short paragraph. Inspirational quotes are sprinkled throughout the book where space allows.

The games included in this title range from simple physical activities to ones in which the child is invited to express emotions such as anger or anxiety. Many of the games involve guessing or problem solving, teamwork and sharing. There are a few games specifically for outdoor use while others will require props such as a music player, paper, or candles.

Some of the games are familiar ones from my own childhood, while other ideas were new to me. Not all of the games will be appropriate for every setting or group of children. In particular, I would not select the games involving vampires or witches for game play with my own children. But, I could easily modify the suggestions to incorporate less menacing characters.

Overall, this book would be a useful addition to a new teacher’s library of reference materials but might not contain enough new material for a more experienced instructor. Though, anyone looking for new inspiration or a reminder of activities once known but forgotten will find something of use in the book. I tried out several of the activities with two of my own children, ages 7 and 4, with good results, albeit only temporary ones. After quickly performing a suggested activity, they both clamored for yet another one. I think that means they liked the book. In general I find the Smart Fun books to be easy to use with simple but effective ideas for entertaining children. There are other activities books that contain far more detail and complexity, but this book is quick and easy to use.

Note: I received my copy of this book free of charge and am publishing this review as an “early reviewer” of the book. ( )

This is a cute book, that still seems like it could have used a final pass by an editor. There are numerous small mistakes in typing, usually involving matching a verb to its subject.
That said, a number of the exercises look like fun and I'll enjoy trying them out when my niece gets a bit older. ( )

This is a handy resource book with simple activities to calm and focus children. The book was organized in a manner which made it quite easy to find an activity for your group of children based on age, stage and number.

I enjoyed the use of visualization through out the activities in the book. This plays nicely into our use of the idea of centering oneself and the use of the calming breath. I was a bit sad to see so many of the activities were unable to be translated to home use by parents.

Some of the activities had some set-up time involved either with gathering needed materials or with setting the stage for the activity. Though I should note most of the materials were simple in nature so the lists of needed materials were short. This would work well for classroom, childcare or other structured environments. I am passing my copy on to our scout group as an activity resource!

Our children spend so much time entertaining themselves these days, that it can be difficult to get them to interact in a positive way with others. Even many classrooms have a difficult time creating opportunities for positive interaction. Electronic games and computers have taken their toll.

This book has 101 fun ways to play and have fun, while relaxing and shedding the tensions that even our little ones find building during the day. There are sit down games, and active games. One suggestion is even for a tea party with Chamomile tea!

Scouting expeditions, massage circles, campfire games (around a candle) and mental gymnastics are all included. I work in a school for special needs children and there are many games that our students will be able to play and enjoy. Of course this is not a book meant to be handed off to a child with instructions to "go and play." This is a book to give adults new ideas of how to interact with children and find new ways to enjoy some down time.

One of my favorite parts of this book are the little bits of wisdom tucked here and there among the games, Such as "Imagination is more important tan knowledge" Albert Einstein .

This is one of those books that moms, caregivers and teachers will find to be an invaluable resource for those times when everyone needs a break. ( )