The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games

By Linda Garland Page

Part oral history and part rule book, The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games is a joyous collection of memories of playing indoor and outdoor games; of making dolls, homemade board games, playhouses, and other toys--each with complete instructions and the flavor of southern Appalachia. Every toy and game has been tested by the Foxfire students and is devised to make or play yourself, without major expense, complicated parts, or electricity.

Originally published in 1985, the book includes familiar games like marbles, hopscotch, and horseshoes, as well as more obscure entertainments such as stealing the pines, crows and cranes, and thimble. Here, too, are instructions for constructing playhouses, noisemakers, puzzles, and whimmy diddles. The book also provides information on special games traditionally played on Sundays and holidays.

For those who are tired of worn-out batteries and electronic toys and for anyone curious about the playtimes of an earlier generation, The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games is a welcome and entertaining guide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
• Release date: Jun 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781469617008

Book preview

PART ONE

OUTSIDE

GAMES

Most of the homes was woodlands around, and we rambled in the woods a lot. Enjoyed nature, really. All of us mountain people did that, too. I look back over my childhood as a very happy life, and I don’t regret that I lived back then.—Ada Kelly

The elements of the outdoors—the woods, fields, cornshucks, ivy branches, playgrounds, June bugs, moss, and hiding places—dominate the memories of those we interviewed. There were plenty of indoor games, as you can see in Part Two, but when the weather permitted—and sometimes when it didn’t—the people we talked with preferred the

Reviews for The Foxfire Book of Appalachian Toys and Games

[lewie-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is aggod book for someone interested in old fashion toys.