1/17
A long time ago, in a stupider age, boys played a game of flipping baseball cards. The rules were simple: Two kids each hold cards, slightly bent. Release the cards. If only one lands face-up on the ground, its owner gets both. Otherwise it's a tie. Flash forward to today. Here's just one "frequently asked question" and answer from the official Web site for the Yu-Gi-Oh trading-card game Duelist King Tournament, a Japanese import that's a fad fave of wee ones in the States: "Can I Normal Summon in face-up Defense Position?" "A Normal Summon (including a Tribute Summon) can only be played in face-up Attack Position. A Set can only be played in face-down Defense Position." That's one of the shorter question-and-answers for a game played by 8- to 10-year-olds. If your li'l genius knows the rules and likes to play, haul him or her out to Ridgmar Mall, 2060 Green Oaks Road in Fort Worth, where an estimated 10,000 or so kids will face off in the traveling tournament 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It's free. Call 817-731-0856. --Patrick Williams
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Kids Make the Grade
1/17
There are generally two kinds of science projects: the kind that wows the judges and the kind that sends them running for cover. As some of us learned the hard way, the secret to blue-ribbon science requires more than lifelike lava or a spastic hamster on a wheel that does nothing. At two science fair dos-and-don'ts seminars, veteran science teacher Michael Murray will reveal what it does require. Murray will help scientifically ambitious parents and students in grades one through eight develop fun and effective science projects Saturday at 11 a.m. at Skillman Southwestern Library, 5707 Skillman Road, 214-670-6078, and 2 p.m. at Central Library, 1515 Young St., 214-670-1671. --Stephanie DurhamTurn the Beat Around
1/20
For teens, it's the perfect place to pass a kiss. For parents, it's a place you hope your teen frequents for the plethora of learning tools, not a quick anatomy lesson. For all the sweet little tykes, it's an escape into a world where walls are woven from books and stories come alive. Most important, though, the public library system is an emblem for our community. It's filled with diversity, created to belong to everyone. Plus it doesn't cost a thing. Parents would have to be fools to pass up this week's free fun for the kiddies from Library Live! This time the beat comes from Leo Hassan, a storyteller of African folktales. He's bringing his drumming to Mountain Creek Library, 6102 Mountain Creek Parkway, Tuesday at 4 p.m. and Renner Frankford Library, 6400 Frankford Road, Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. With djembe drum, shakers and sticks, he's going to tell stories, play traditional beats and show the youngsters some basic dance moves. Call 214-670-6704. --Desirée Henry
