“Your kids may spend more time reading The Pocket Guide to Mischief than actually making it . . . if you're lucky. There is a lot of great collected information in this book, including stories of pranks played throughout history and lots of funny responses to everyday situations…”

-books4yourkids.com
http://www.books4yourkids.com/2009/06/great-books-for-summer.html

What kid could resist this title? Sized for handy stashing in the inside pocket of a jacket, this primer for merry-prankster wannabes starts out with the obligatory request that readers play safe, and not damage property nor hurt anyone, neither psychically nor physically.

After this, King takes off the brakes. From the smorgasbord of tricks: instead of TP’ing someone’s house at night, sprinkle the lawn with instant potato flakes (the dew will puff them up). And a tip: a pencil or pen clamped between the teeth effectively disguises one’s voice. From the historical record: forced into a duel, Abraham Lincoln named, as the choice of arms, cow manure. From the sports ledger: the mascots of Ohio’s Bryan & Stratton College are the Lemmings.

Kids will also go for the Oxford Dictionary insults—e.g., “cockalorum”—recommended as replacements for “cuss words”; the detailed guide to shooting rubber bands; and the many scatological jokes.

-Publisher’s Weekly, March 2008

Bart King, who’s a bit of a cutup, has taken a leave of absence from his job as an educator. But while he’s making a living in the funny business, he hasn’t stopped teaching… King says, his primary objective: Produce stuff that kids will read. He says National Endowment for the Arts studies indicate that Americans are reading less and that young people, in particular, don’t do books. He calls the most recent NEA report “the death knell of literacy,” but still thinks injecting a little mischief into kids’ reading lists might be the way to turn things around.

-Portland Tribune, March 25, 2008

Despite the silliness, this book has tremendous educational value, and while having fun, kids will learn a variety of historical and scientific facts.…This is the perfect book for a reluctant or lagging reader, a long car trip, or a rainy day at home. As George Borrow said, “Mischief is merely an attempt to escape from the dreary vacuum of idleness.” And it gets them away from the TV!

-Jaime Bell, Curled Up With a Good Kid’s Book (curledup.com)

The author’s name is Bart King, but it might just as well be Bart Simpson. Because the book is The Pocket Guide to Mischief, and it’s just the type of tome Bart S. would keep under his pillow.

It contains instructions about prank-pulling, slights and jibes one can inflict on those people readers put under the category of “Nemesis.” Example: What to say to a Nemesis who asks you how he would look in a certain article of clothing. Answer: “Lonely.”

King suggests some classic mischief, including peeling the labels off the cans in your Nemesis’ kitchen. Of course, all the pranks in this book would be very wrong to actually execute.

-Florida Times-Union, July 16, 2008

King’s writing style is humorous and fast-paced. As a former middle-school teacher, he is familiar with what appeals to kids. He includes many interesting, odd facts about a variety of topics. Mischief made by many famous people, including world leaders and members of royalty, is incorporated nicely into this book. There are also a few chapters dedicated to unusual vocabulary words that children will undoubtedly remember. Kids may not realize they are learning while they are reading such a fun book…

This is a light, entertaining, and easy read. Children will get a kick out of it and will likely learn a few things in the process.

King’s general purpose is to offer ideas more fun than dangerous. And his sly, underlying objective is to get youngsters interested in reading… In a review on Education.com, Danielle Wood, director of editorial content, gives the guide four-and-a-half stars out of five, noting teens will want to read it, and that if reading is the goal, then it’s a good book. “Just don’t be surprised if you have to endure the occasional whoopee cushion at dinner time,” Wood adds.

-New Jersey Express Times, March 31, 2008

There’s a little book out, published a month ago, that’s sure to be a hit in all the middle school detention classes. Written by Bart King, a middle school teacher who signs his letters “Impishly yours,” the volume is called The Pocket Guide to Mischief, and yes, it fits in your pocket.

It’s got all kinds of ideas for pulling pranks on friends, enemies, even parents. But it also carries warnings about the misuse of the information. King’s underlying goal is to encourage young people to read. And that may be the ultimate prank in this mischievous book.

Check out King’s book on mischief; then read a bit on gags pulled by famous folks... And if you still want more, explore a few pranks that should go over big, like putting a “for sale” sign on your neighbor’s yard. But before you do that, better study the rules of pranking.

King points to history for the foundation of prankdom. President Calvin Coolidge was known to ring the front door of the White House and then run and hide when the servants answered. The Boston Tea Party and the classic “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast also top his list.

The book has chapters on picking a nemesis, mischievous foods, careers in mischief, and oldies but goodies. It’s 272 pages of practical jokes of the mild variety. Enjoy the reading. We’ll warn the neighbors.

-Quad-City Times, April 16, 2008

I finished a book I just got two days ago last night called The Pocket Guide To Mischief by Bart King. This has to be one of the funniest books I have ever read, besides I Am America (And So Can You!). The book basically teaches you to to be a mischievous person, without being too mean. King also includes tons of quotes from William Shakespeare, George Washington, etc. It’s an excellent book. It runs about 230 pages and it’s easy to read. Plus, the book is more educational than you may think.

-omigod.net, April 2008

“The nice thing about mischief is that you can be mischievous while making it. That's one of the points Bart King makes in this easy-to-access tutorial. After arguing that we all have the capacity for mischief, King offers some suggestions on how to act on this talent. The rules of the game include not having rules…. Annoyed at a co-worker? Change the patsy's cellphone ring tone to the sound of someone vomiting.

The author also provides a mischief quiz, which includes the following:
‘Your ideal job would be one where you could...
a. Feed the hungry and clothe the ... people who need clothes.
b. Write books like this.
c. Release starving leopards into the petting zoo.’

King…even includes factual information on the mythical figure of El Caganer (which translates as ‘the great pooper’), who has many statues built in his honor in northern Spain. …This book is ideal for boys 8 to 12.”

-Robert Nott, Santa Fe New Mexican