As we make the transition into autumn I am identifying books that could make excellent holiday gifts. I will share my recommendations on the Sunday following Thanksgiving. One new book is so utterly nifty that I’m not going to wait to tell you about it.

“Unbored: The Essential Field Guide to Serious Fun” is a lively new manual brimming with suggestions of ways that parents can be vitally connected with their children as they are making those sometimes complicated transitions into becoming more independent and self-reliant.

It opens with a disclaimer that “the authors and publishers expressly disclaim liability for any injury or damages resulting from the use (proper or otherwise) of any information in this book.” This warning piqued my interest. I wondered which activities described therein could pose potential dangers?

The book is divided into four chapters and the following subsections: 1. You (goof off/do it yourself/your body/tell your story/rock out). 2. Home (your home/your room/your yard/get crafty/cooking/your pets). 3. Society (get social/your school/save the planet/make your own media/getting around). 4. Adventure (get experimental/play games/go outside/explore/expand your horizons).

“Unbored” is densely illustrated and filled with a profusion of ideas for many activities that will appeal to kids and to grownups, too. Here are some examples:

“Your Funky Family Tree” encourages children to research their family genealogy. We can learn so much from interviewing our relatives. How I wish I had spent more time asking my grandparents about their lives while I had that opportunity. This process can produce a bounty of treasured memories and forge deeper bonds within families.

Do you recall the childhood clubhouses that you made? “Unbored” has a section that demonstrates how to build those backyard forts and shelters. There are instructions here for constructing a lean-to, a tarp shelter, a tipi, a snow fort and that icy favorite, an igloo.

Did you ever turn a book into a concealed hiding place? In “Make a Secret Book Safe” we learn how to turn old hollowed-out books into “a place to stash money, candy and other valuables-where brothers, sisters and other burglars won’t find them.”

I shall never forget that first batch of cookies that I baked all by myself. “Unbored” has sections to encourage young people to experiment in the kitchen. There are recipes here for dishes that kids can prepare for themselves, foods like burritos, burgers, soups and smoothies.

During this election season many children are receiving their initial exposures to political campaigns. They are not old enough to vote. Even so, they can be involved. In the section “Tell Your Politicians What You Think” kids can learn how to express their concerns to elected representatives.

Do you remember childhood road trips? Perhaps some memories we might rather forget. In “Plan a Road Trip (That’s Actually Fun)” children are encouraged to get involved in the planning for car travel so that these trips will be more enjoyable. One essential suggestion is to “stop. stop. stop. stop.” Take the time to explore. And don’t forget to play that old reliable, the License Plate Game.

The authors’ disclaimers aside, this reviewer didn’t detect any particularly hazardous activities that are being promoted in “Unbored.” Perhaps I missed something? This is one fun book.