Kid's activity book from at least 30 years ago

June 19, 2021 6:10 AM

I have vague recollections of a book from my childhood. I think my kid might like the book, but I can't remember enough about it to search for it usefully. It might have had "America" or "Americana" or "Almanac" in the title; "Kid's America" sounds like the right title to me but of course searching that is useless. It definitely contained a guide to hobo signs. Maybe you had the same book?

The book was a large, thick trade paperback, with either an orange or maybe a red and white (and blue?) striped border on the cover. It contained an assortment of stories, songs, crafts, and games. Aside from the hobo code, I remember that there were instructions for making dip candles, and a "riddle" about an iron ring with "TOTI EMUL ESTO" inscribed on it that seems to be a common blacksmith meme. There may have also been instructions for making a slingshot; there was a lot of "crafts you can make with yard waste and random housewares" stuff in it, along with an assortment of esoteric US history. It came and subsequently passed out of my possession in the late 1980s/early 1990s, but It may have been published many years before I got my hands on it. The theme was definitely related to the United States, maybe the bicentennial or maybe colonial times although I definitely remember some Great Depression stuff in there too (like the hobo code.)

Any of this ring any bells for anyone?

posted by jordemort to Media & Arts (10 answers total)

Response by poster: Oh, I forgot: the pages in the book were laid out in at least two columns per page in most/all places, maybe more.
posted by jordemort at 6:11 AM on June 19, 2021

Best answer: Steven Caney's Kids' America?
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:22 AM on June 19, 2021 [8 favorites]

The American Boy’s Handy Book, perhaps? There were also editions on signs/signals and campfires.
posted by umwhat at 6:22 AM on June 19, 2021

Response by poster: MonkeyToes has it! Thank you!
posted by jordemort at 6:24 AM on June 19, 2021

Just popping in to say that book meant a lot to me as a boy in the 1970s. It seemed to tell me that there were grownups who cared and wanted me to have some fun and independence. (Also: dowsing. Total hooey, but a fun article.)
posted by argybarg at 7:11 AM on June 19, 2021 [3 favorites]

This book looks delightful.
If you're looking for more, vintage boy scout manuals often had fun projects like this, too.
posted by nouvelle-personne at 11:01 AM on June 19, 2021

I loved that book when I was young & bought copies for my kids & niblings. They love it, too.
posted by belladonna at 11:14 AM on June 19, 2021

I had this book, too! My dad loved the Whole Earth Catalog, and it felt a lot like a kiddo version of that.
posted by rrrrrrrrrt at 1:50 PM on June 19, 2021 [3 favorites]

I’ve got a copy of craney’s Kids’ America. If there’s anything you wanted to verify. It definitely has hobo symbols in it.
posted by Miko at 6:42 PM on June 19, 2021

OMG! I had it too! How cool. I always thought that kid on the cover was super creepy looking but I loved all the activities in the book.
posted by exceptinsects at 10:36 AM on June 24, 2021