My sister bought my daughter a puzzle called Scramble Squares.  Of course this puzzle was titled “Puppies”.  The package states that this is “Perhaps the World’s Most Challenging Puzzle!”, even though it consists of only 9 pieces.  Each piece is a four inch square that contains 4 pictures of part of a puppy – a puppy part (head or body) is on each side of the square.  The object is to unscramble the nine square pieces by perfectly matching the pictures on the squares’ edges, forming one large 3 by 3 square (12” square).

My daughter spent some time trying to solve this puzzle, with no luck.  Then, she asked me to give it a try.  I thought, “How hard can this be, there are only 9 pieces”.  So, I gave it a try; then, another try; then, another try.  Still, many more attempts and I haven’t yet been able to solve it.

Then, we worked together to try to solve it.  We also took turns, each getting a certain amount of time before the other person could give it a whirl. A few friends and family members also tried to solve it, with no luck.  We all get a little frustrated, but it is so much fun.  And, it has made for some quality family time – problem solving as a team, and a fun game to play together. 

The package included a website to visit – www.b-dazzle.com.  When I went to the site, I found out that they have 147 different styles of puzzles to choose from, things like art, nature, sports, hobbies, etc.  Check out the site to see what it’s all about.  I think it is a great inexpensive gift, and a great way to give your brain a workout.  My sister bought our puzzle from a drugstore she visited in Saugatuck, Michigan.

I’d love to hear if you have ever tried one of these puzzles and how you did on it.