Customer Reviews:
 I might get this item December 21, 2005
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I asked my grandpa if I get this for Christmas I am very happy.I wont this it is a great source to read about kid tips.
 A good basic guide for kids September 7, 2005
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
This is a fairly good survival book, good starting point for kids. The book is spiral bound, with a net and camouflage cover, and a functional compass attached to the cover. The book has an index and table of contents, artwork and color photos. It also lists a few useful addresses like the Red Cross, FEMA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and more. The style of the book is very busy, short and to the point on the issues, so it might be more likely to be read by some youths. Most of the advice in the book is very good up to date information, even in its abbreviated form.
The book breaks down survival issues into 4 areas starting with "Animal Dangers", with advice about bears, snakebite, gators, cougars, ants, bees, and sharks. The information on animals is very good because it advises you how to avoid the problem in the first place, as well as good advice on what to do if an encounter happens. Next is "Natural Dangers" including quicksand, hurricane, earthquake, avalanche, lightening, tornado, blizzard, desert heat, sea, flood, forest fire, and frozen wilderness. This section is very good as well, useful advice. Third is "Human Hazards", including escape from a car in the water, avoid being crushed in a crowd, survive a plane crash, escape a burning building, escape a sinking ship, and creating a family fire safety plan. This chapter again has very solid advice. Last chapter is "Basic Survival Skills", including planning, navigation, pocketknife use, finding water, making fire, finding food, storing and cooking food, making shelter, animals in the wild, time, weather, getting rescued, getting out, first aid, and knots.
I do have a few minor complaints with the last section, as some areas are way too brief, even for a book aimed at kids. After all, if a person is buying this book, the biggest reason they may need it is for emergency skills when camping. It seems that this chapter should have had more information, but is slim on some very important points. The first aid section covers blisters, burns, and how to sling a broken arm. That's it, nothing on choking, bleeding, or other hazards. Kids can learn this stuff, we teach 9 year old Cub Scouts. In the section on planning, there is no mention of the "buddy system", especially vital for kids. Another glitch, the book correctly tells you to purify all drinking water you find, yet on the same page has a picture of a hiker drinking water right out of a stream. This is a mixed message, as drinking directly from a stream is very dangerous.
Another topic that needs some work is the one on getting lost. When we teach kids about getting lost we always tell them that as soon as you are lost, stay put or "hug a tree" as we call it. It is much easier and quicker to find a lost kid if they stay in one place. The more they panic and keep walking or running, the longer the rescue takes. This book says you have to decide whether to stay put or try to get out. There is no decision to make as a kid, statistically if you stay put you will get found, but maybe not at all if you keep moving.
Overall a very interesting book, lots of good stuff. Make sure you cover the missing points or mistakes with your kids though.
The Best Survival Book Out There May 8, 2003
"Kids' Survival Handbook" is without a doubt the best survival book that I have ever come across, out of my collection of ten. This spiral bound handbook has an extremely cool cover of waterproof camo with a compass dangling off. In this case, you can judge books by their covers. The inside has the most beautiful pages filled with colorful, suitable backgrounds with photographs and illustrations on absolutely every single page. It has interesting "Did You Know" boxes. But the most important part, the survival, is not be underestimated. It has clear and easy to read directions on surviving almost every situation. Everything has profuse information that is so easy to understand that there is absolutely no book to rival it! You can survive ANYTHING with this book. I would give it a 10 Star rating, but the scale only reaches 5. If you don't get this book and instead get another, you have just wasted more money on a lesser book. GET THIS BOOK!
The inside is just as good as the outside of this handy book May 23, 2002
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
My 8 year old son bought this book with his own money because it just looked so cool! And inside, it's gets even better. With chapters on how to survive a hurricane and other natural disasters, to what to do if you're attacked by ants, bees, a snake or bear, to survival tips if you're ever lost or stranded, this book was one no boy (or adventuresome girl) should be without. My son takes it with him most places we go to, just in case. And whenever he shows it to a friend, they want one to. It's great if your child is in scouts or is an outdoorsey kind of kid. Makes a great gift, too!
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