Author: Frances A. Karnes & Tracy L. Riley
Price: $17.95 USD
Overall Rating (1-10): 7
Value (1-10): 5
Flexibility (1-10): 7
Ages/Grades: all school-aged children, but primarily middle school and above Review:
Many parents fall into homeschooling due to a talent or gift that their child was born with or may have acquired and that the schools just can not accommodate. Not every gifted child wishes to flaunt their gifts or use their talents in a competitive way, but for those that do, this book answers the need. There are, of course, many different kinds of gifts, but Competitions for Talented Kids deals with those of a primarily academic nature.
The book reads like a reference book with each listing in alphabetical order based on the name of the opportunity, contest or program. This is one of the flaws in the book that I feel could have been easily avoided. In fact, the glossary at the front offers an entirely different format - a listing of opportunities based on subject area. This is a lot more user-friendly and makes the book a pretty user-friendly resource to reference.
Each listing is presented in an easy-to-skim format, boldly divided into: sponsor info, website, area of focus, origin and purpose, description, eligibility, important dates, how to enter, judging criteria, winner notification, awards and advice. This is a great overview without being overwhelming. I did notice a few opportunities that were missing from the book and was surprised at that.
Part II of this book is written in a consumable workbook format with a variety of reusable resources for parent and child. Such resources include templates for thank you letters, blank lists for filling in why competitions are fun, what competitions are of interest, starting your own competition club and several others.
Part III of this book is filled with endless reference books and articles organized by subject area.
I felt this book was a bit overpriced for what you get. This is the kind of book most families could benefit from referencing just a few times and then might never crack again. I would recommend this as a library loan or used book-worthy purchase.
Bottom Line:
Overall, whether your child is a master chef, a brilliant scientist or an amazing mathematician, there is a great opportunity for them referenced in the pages of this book. If you have a child who wishes to use his or her gifts in competition to win prizes, money, scholarships and more, this is a great reference book.
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