Riddles, Puzzles and Brainteasers for Kids

Hold on to your office supplies! Kids, ages 8 and up, will be pilfer paper clips to solve these puzzles. But if it keeps them entertained it’s worth it, right?

From the publisher: If you thought paper clips were just for holding papers, you're in for a fun surprise! Read the clues, then arrange a clip chain that satisfies all the clues. Work the puzzlers alone or in small groups to become a sharper thinker and improve skills in problem-solving, analyzing, evaluating and reading. You supply the clips.

This book is geared toward kids ages 9-12 but kids a bit older or younger may enjoy it too.

From the publisher: Brain teasers and riddles have been proven to build kids' mental acuity. The Everything Kids' Riddles and Brain Teasers Book does this and more, giving children a place to learn - and laugh - all in one! Packed full of puzzles, games and activities, The Everything Kids' Riddles and Brain Teasers Book will keep audiences in stitches.

We love these visual puzzle books in my house. Even very young children can do these. This one has some tougher puzzles in experienced puzzlers.

From the publisher: This second "Life Picture Puzzle" book has even more puzzle fun than the first! There is 32 more pages and the puzzles are a larger size. There are two new types of puzzles to keep you on your toes. The Cut-Ups will test your skill at unscrambling a photo that we have clipped into pieces and then shuffled around. To create the new LIFE Classic Puzzles, we dipped into "LIFE's" world-famous photo archives of thousands of great black-and white images.

Hidden pictures are great because they are a brainteaser kids can do before they can read. The publisher say this book is good for ages 4-8, but I think my 10 year old would enjoy it.

From the publisher: Twenty-four delightfully drawn tableaux with ingeniously concealed objects challenge sharp-eyed sleuths to ferret out survival equipment in a jungle scene; a near-sighted giant's mislaid glasses; tools belonging to an absent-minded tree-house builder and many other items. Solutions included.

Difficulty level in these riddles, mysteries, and verbal conundrums, range from 1 to 3. In kids’ ages that is probably tweens and up.

From the publisher: This one-of-a-kind collection is guaranteed to build analytical, creative, and practical thinking power while bringing hours of fun and entertainment.

Ever kid loves riddles--the sillier the better. This one will keep them busy.

From the publisher: What do you get if you cross a pig and a centipede? Bacon and legs. Who did Dracula marry? The girl necks door. With hundreds of hysterical riddles to choose from, there’s non-stop amusement on these pages. The subjects range from “Bugs, Beasts, and Birds” to “You Could Have Food Me,” and every one is fun.

One-minute mysteries keep kids reading for a whole bunch of minutes! And these have the added bonus of reinforcing science skills

From the publisher: Not an ordinary mystery book, One Minute Mysteries makes science fun! Each one-minute mystery (solutions included) exercises critical thinking skills while covering earth, space, life, physical, chemical, and general science. A bonus section includes five mysteries from our upcoming title in the series, One Minute Mysteries: Solve 'em with Math! This entertaining and educational book is great for kids, grown-ups, schools, educators, homeschoolers and anyone who loves good mysteries, good science, or both!

While there are many highly entertaining visual puzzle books, the I Spy books set the standard. For our family, the only ones that come close are the very similar Can You See What I See? books (Compare Prices) written by I Spy illustrator Walter Wick. A parent may need to read the riddle, which lays out which hidden-in-plain sight objects to find. But there are so many items in the intricate photo illustrations that children can make up new riddles or enjoy a little freelance sleuthing. Children of all ages love these books. Both series have books geared specifically to preschoolers, though children in that age range may also enjoy the regular series.

Hidden in plain sight, Waldo gets around the world! This collection includes Where’s Waldo, Where’s Waldo Now?, Where’s Waldo? The Fantastic Journey, Where Waldo? The Wonder Book and Where’s Waldo? In Hollywood.

From the publisher: Just when you thought you’d found Waldo in all the likely places, we give you the slipcased edition — offering a complete set of Where's Waldo? adventures.