Earlier this year I spent a few days at home with a fever, cough, and general yuckiness. After a day of playing video games, it was time to change things up and tackle some of the unread books on my shelf. Like most of us, I buy more than I actually complete, so m. The first one on the roster was given to me shortly after the birth of my first child. Let’s talk about Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules: A Children’s Book about Gun Safety.
Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules – A Book for Parents and Kids
My wife and I both grew up around guns, using them for sport and hunting. As adults we have safely managed our nieces and nephew around firearms for the past few years. With our first child on the way, we decided a refresher was in order, and added this book to our “to-buy” lists. Written by Julie Golob and illustrated by Nancy Batra, Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules is broken into two parts.
The Children’s Book
The first segment is a dedicated children’s book. This is complete with colorful illustrations, easily understood language, and a lighthearted tone. Rather than striking fear into the reader, Julie instead gives comparisons to other tools such as kitchen knives and stoves. These are things to be careful around but not to be afraid of. She provides slightly re-worded firearm safety rules, along with guidance for children on what to do if they find a gun. Julie also gives very basic comments on function of the guns themselves.
Nothing gets verbose or complex, giving your child key takeaways in just a few pages. Illustrations would be at home in most any children’s book, offering enough detail to be educational without losing their attention. With fewer than 30 pages, each with under five sentences a piece, even those with the shortest iPad fueled attention spans should be able to focus through this book.
The Parent’s Guide
The second segment of Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules is aimed squarely at the parents. Here we get much more detail from Julie regarding the content and subtext of this book. We start simply, with the goals of her writing, the target audience, and where the work is applicable.
From here she details why the book is written the way that it is, from the comparisons with household tools, to the colors used in illustrations, language choices, and more. These help the parents better understand the deeps meaning behind things, and can provide you with greater knowledge for follow-on conversations with your child on this subject.
Wrapping Up Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules – A Book for Parents and Kids
If you’re someone who spends time around children, this book deserves a spot on your shelf. If you’re someone who only interacts with adults, this book still deserves a spot on your shelf. The information here can help you educate people of all ages. Julie has done a great job making an apolitical introduction to both firearms culture and safety with Toys, Tools, Guns & Rules.
You can find your own copy, or one of Julie’s other books HERE (BOOKS – Julie Golob).
To learn more about conceal carry with children, check out our ongoing series below!
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If you made it this far, thanks for reading! Writing isn’t my full-time profession, and nearly everything I do comes out of my own pocket. Between ammunition, tuition, range fees and more, expenses add up fast. If you like what I have to offer, consider making a donation to my Patreon.
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