Nonfiction 1960s ('70s?) how-to kids' book: how to make snowshoes, make a toboggan, etc.

Hello...When I was an early teen in Regina I had a book that showed, among many other things: how to make a toboggan by boiling the wood in a huge cauldron to create the curl at the front; how to make Native-style trail snowshoes using wood and gut; I remember there were two types of moccasins to be made--one went above the ankle, the other not so high; and many, many other ideas. I think I know someone who has this, but she has forgotten about my request, and i won't ask again. It may have had "Boys' ... " in the title...or not (in the '60s when I think it was published it wouldn't have been unusual for girls to be unfairly excluded). I can't remember with certainty other ideas it offered...aha! making a komatik or Inuit (Eskimo) sled was one, for sure. I'd sure like to find this. Thanks, Murray M.

This is The American Boy's Handy Book. A classic, and enjoyed even by girls like myself. It was really spectacular. There's also a field guide-- how to catch animals, etc-- and some versions of the text for girls that I never got around to reading.

EDIT: I know you think it was published in the sixties, but I'm pretty sure that the Handy Book has been continually republished since, like, the late 19th century, and I know that it does in fact have what you described in it somewhere.

EDIT AGAIN: Nevermind, it might not be this one, if you're from Canada and you're sure it was focused on Canada things, or if it was a book aimed at teenagers-- this book was aimed at younger children, though it was filled with extremely intricate and large-scale projects. If you go to the review pages for this book I've mentioned, one of the ones on top of the list is a huge list of all the chapters in the book. If you look at those, it should jumpstart your memory.

No, not this one, lmichet, but I appreciate the attempt. The snowshoes are here, but not the toboggan-boiling (!) nor the other things. Close, though! And even as a kid I wouldn't have been pleased by trapping tips or raising wild birds.

Anyone else know? Guess I'll have to badger that Winnipeg non-responding friend...

Hey, folks. A local (Yukon) store that offers a search service to locate and acquire such books responded to my e-mail request of two weeks ago. The book is by W. Ben Hunt and is called The golden book of crafts and hobbies. Its copyright is 1957. It's out of print, but about $30 to purchase. Thanks for the help--so long ago.

Wow, I had a copy of that! I wish I knew where it was; I loved paging through it as a kid. Never tried any of the projects, but I still remember the details of some of them.

Well, that's the end of a years-long puzzle. Now that I know it, I don't know that I want to get the book. Solved!