Top 10 Must Read Books For Girls

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Girls who have discovered the joy of reading will want to be sure to get these books into their permanent library. Guaranteed to become instant favorites, here are some girls books you will never, ever forget:

1. His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman (Fantasy)

Young girls around the world have been inspired by the adventures of Lyra and her daemon, Pantalaimon, as they journey together through many worlds -- including ours -- to discover the secret of dust, the mysterious force that penetrates all worlds.

2. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle (Fantasy)

"It was a dark and stormy night..." may seem like a cliche opening, but it is the beginning of a wonderful fantasy that stretches across time, space and dimensions. Discover how Meg Murry can travel via tesseract with the assistance of angelic beings to rescue her father.

3. Pollyanna by Elanor H. Porter (Fiction)

Learn how to play "the Glad Game" that keeps Pollyanna's optimism strong despite the many challenges she faces as a young orphan girl living in Vermont in the 1900s.

4. The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel (Fiction)

A poignant look at the life of a contemporary high school student, Connelly Sternin, who identifies with the Rapunzel tales of a trapped princess until she meets her prince charming, but the typical tale of boy meets girl takes an interesting twist as Connelly learns the value of trust and friendship.

5. The Fabulous Girl's Guide to Grace Under Pressure by Kim Izzo, Ceri Marsh (Non-Fiction)

A fun, contemporary "survival guide" for social situations that create high stress reactions -- and how to handle them.

6. Joy of Cooking by Irma Rombauer (Cookbook)

Although you will probably never read this book cover-to-cover, it can become the most important book on your shelf because it not only contains time-tested recipes, it is an invaluable guide to the wonderful art of cooking.

7. Lost Star: The Story of Amelia Earhart by Patricia Lauber (Biography)

A pioneer among women, the story of Amelia Earhart's solo flights around the world still inspires young girls, and the details of her mysterious disappearance continue to fascinate.

8. Reviving Ophelia by Dr. Mary Pipher (Psychology)

An incredible study of the effects of the modern "girl-poisoning culture" that helps young girls reclaim the power society strips from them.

9. The Holy Man Trilogy by Susan Trot

This wonderful series takes a gentle look at the wisdom of kindness, generosity and patience, and shows how one simple man can have a huge effect the world.

10. Nancy Drew Series by Carolyn Keene (Mystery)

No list would be complete without the classic tales of America's favorite teenage sleuth and her many harrowing escapades.

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Seven Best Outdoor Games for Girls

It's summertime now, and time to plan outdoor activities for children. Whether planning a birthday party or just a morning in the park, it is beneficial to have some outdoor games in mind. Here are seven good outdoor games for girls.

Colored Eggs

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Colored Eggs is a timeless favorite. One girl is the "mother hen," while another is "the big, bad wolf." The Mother Hen assigns a color to each of her "eggs." The wolf "knocks" and calls out a color. The "egg" that has been assigned that color runs around a designated area. If she is tagged by the wolf, then she becomes the wolf. The process then starts over again.

Freeze Tag

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Freeze tag can be tailored for young girls by making "it" the "wicked witch" or the "evil queen." The other girls can be "princesses" or "fair maidens." When tagged, the princess must freeze in place, and remain frozen until another princess touches her.

Jump Rope

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Girls still love to jump rope. Popular chants can be found online. Generally, the chant tells girls when to "jump in," and "jump out."

Ghosts in the Graveyard

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Ghosts in the Graveyard is another outdoor game. "The Ghost" hides, and the other children seek the ghost. A player shouts "Ghosts in the graveyard!" as soon as she spots the ghost, and everyone runs for a designated base. If someone is tagged, then she becomes the ghost for the next round. For safety, there should be a designated "out of bounds" area. Children should wear light-colored clothing and have flashlights if playing outdoors at night.

Other traditional outdoor games popular with girls include Four Square, Hopscotch, and the Water Balloon Toss.

Four Square

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Four Square involves a chalk square divided into four equal parts. The girls bounce a ball between the squares, trying to keep it from going out of bounds. When someone lets the ball out, she leaves her square and the next player moves into it.

Hopscotch

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Hopscotch is a sidewalk game where girls hop through a series of squares, trying to miss the square that contains a tossed pebble.

Water Balloon Toss

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For a Water Balloon Toss, line girls up in two rows. Partners toss a water balloon back and forth, taking one step back each time the balloon is successfully tossed. The winners are the last two who have not broken their balloon.

These are just a few ideas for outdoor games for girls.