THE Dangerous Book For Boys, a hefty, 400-page hardcover tome by English brothers Conn and Hal Iggulden, is not exactly the modern idea of a best-selling children's book.

Rather than containing stories about wizards, adorable rodents or singing teenagers, it is a non-fiction book that gives instructions on how to make catapults and a go-kart, contains history lessons about ancient battles and even includes a list of Latin Phrases Every Boy Should Know.

It became a runaway international bestseller, selling more than half a million copies worldwide since its publication in June last year.

'Mothers in their 30s and 40s read it and remember a girlhood they hadn't thought about in years, and girls read it with their friends and giggle and start to try things out' - Authors Andrea Buchanan (right) and Miriam Peskowitz (left) -- PHOTOS: HARPERCOLLINS

The success has resulted in official spin-offs like The Dangerous Book For Boys Yearbook and The Pocket Dangerous Book For Boys, as well as contenders from other publishers such as Buster Books' The Boys' Book, released in September last year, and Viking's The Great Big Glorious Book For Girls, released in July this year.

Like Dangerous, these are large hardcover books written in a conversational style reminiscent of old children's magazines and manuals.

But now, an official counterpart intended for the fairer sex has finally been published. With permission from the Iggulden brothers, HarperCollins has published The Daring Book For Girls, written by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz.

Like The Dangerous Book, The Daring Book is a mix of adventure, history and trivia, geared towards girls. Hence, there are chapters like How To Put Your Hair Up With A Pencil, Slumber Party Games and a series on Queens Of The Ancient World.

In a joint e-mail interview, Buchanan, 36, and Peskowitz, 43, both mothers of girls, say the books appeal to people of all ages, rather than just children: 'The books are positive and they bring people together. Mothers in their 30s and 40s read it and remember a girlhood they hadn't thought about in years, and girls read it with their friends and giggle and start to try things out.'

Singaporean retailers say that the books are popular here as they appeal to a simpler time when amusements were easy to come by.

Ms Francine Chu, Books Kinokuniya's children's books buyer, says: 'The books recommend activities besides shopping, eating and watching movies that readers can try legally and with little cost and effort. Singaporeans who think that there is nothing to do are drawn to these books naturally.'

Adds Mr Matthias Low, merchandising manager of MPH bookstores: 'When the book came out, most of the buyers were expatriates as the book is more about their culture. But over time, a lot of Singaporeans are buying it as well.'

One such parent is Ms Elaine Sim, 38, who bought The Dangerous Book for her son Brandon, nine, last year. 'The activities are timeless and encourage a child's imagination,' she says.

She adds that she isn't worried about her son getting hurt attempting any of the activities. 'He likes to sit and flip through the book, but I don't think he has tried making any of the items. After all, we live in an HDB flat - it is not so easy to make a treehouse,' she says.

The Dangerous Book For Boys and The Daring Book For Girls (each $32) are available from major bookstores. Price excludes GST.