Finally, a book designed to be fun for kids around the world! This entertaining book focuses on teaching children fun games and skills that they can use again and again--like how to thumb wrestle, tie knots, play tic-tac-toe and “dots and boxes,” make shadow puppets, juggle, play games like mancala and hopscotch, and even draw their own mazes and doodles. Most activities require only a pencil. Directions for games and activities are provided in pictures and translated into 10 of the world’s most common languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, Ukrainian and English). For kids who speak or want to learn English, there are also illustrated resources like a 100-word picture dictionary, Mother Goose rhymes, and stories (like Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit ), as well as coloring pages and information about some of the world’s most interesting animals. The Shoebox Book is for boys and girls and includes something for every age group (2-4, 5-9, and 10-14). Best of all, it fits perfectly in the bottom of a shoebox, leaving plenty of room for other fun gifts! Q: What does The Shoebox Book include? A: The Shoebox Book includes 26 different activities, games, and skills. Children ages 2-4 may enjoy playing Tic-Tac-Toe, hopscotch, folding paper hats, doing and watching shadow puppets, looking at the 100-word picture “dictionary” and collections of interesting animals, hearing and looking at the pictures for The Tale of Peter Rabbit and Mother Goose rhymes, and tracing and connecting shapes. Younger children can also grow with the book and enjoy discovering new activities and games as they age. Children ages 5-9 should be able to do most of the activities in the book immediately. They are likely to particularly enjoy games like thumb wrestling, cat’s cradle, and dots and boxes; doing activities like mazes, word searches, and coloring; learning to draw animals and patterns; and reading about interesting animals and Aesop’s Fables. Children ages 10-14 will be old enough to do all of the activities in the book. Older children may particularly enjoy the more complex games, such as mancala and “treasure hunt;” drawing prompts (including learning to draw patterns, 3-dimensional shapes, and their own mazes); activities that require greater fine motor skill (such as tying knots, embroidery, and juggling); and sections that rely on greater educational or reading skill (such as the references section on maps, math, and reading descriptions of interesting animals). Q: Is this book produced by Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child, or Box of Joy? A: No. This book is meant to be appropriate for including in shoeboxes like those sent each year through Operation Christmas Child and other charities, but it is not produced by Samaritan’s Purse, OCC, or Box of Joy. Q: Does The Shoebox Book contain Bible stories or Gospel teachings? A: The Shoebox Book has been written to have the broadest reach possible, including to hard-to-reach areas, where even references to the Bible may be prohibited. Accordingly, The Shoebox Book does not include religious materials or references of any kind. Q: Can I donate copies of The Shoebox Book ? A: Of course! The book is designed to be donated. Q: Can I buy the book for my own children? A: Of course! The Shoebox Book includes a number of games and skills that will provide any child with hours of screen-free entertainment. The book may be particularly useful where access to other toys or materials is limited, as when visiting relatives, traveling, or spending time in the hospital.