Puzzle Ocean

The answers were circled on every page in pen, and multiple pages have scribbles all over making the puzzles impossible to solve.

This is the third Usborne Young Puzzle book for my grandson. He studies every page, asks me to read it again and again. On the back inside page are photos of the other Usborne Puzzle books, he studies those and dreams of his next one. There is plenty to think about and solve on every page. The stories are interesting and the drawings are humorous and cute.

I don't agree with the reviewer who thinks that this book can only be read with an adult for a non-reader to solve the puzzles and be interested. My boys are 3 and 5 and have only recently begun to read early reader books like BOB books. So, they are definitely not capable of truly reading these puzzle books by themselves. However, we have read them frequently enough together, and they all follow the same structure, that the boys "read" them by themselves all the time. If they don't always do the specific puzzle on a certain page, they will just search for the things that they tell you to search for throughout the book (like in Puzzle Ocean, one of those things are the blue clams that show up on each double-page spread). All of the books follow the same structure, so it's easy for them to read a new one in the series and understand what they are supposed to do. For example, there is always a "bad guy" who is usually hiding on every double page spread. Then, there are usually two different things that will be consistently found on each double page spread (in Puzzle Ocean, it's blue clams and yellow lobsters). And then, they will give you a list of 10-12 items on the first page of the book, and you need to search for the items throughout the book (one on each double-page spread once again). All of this of course is done within the context of the plot. Each double-page spread has some sort of puzzle. It could be a maze, or a "find what is different" between the left and right page. There is also always a money/counting puzzle (i.e., the girl wants to buy a snack and a drink, and has 10 puzzle pennies to spend, what should she buy?). We read these books a lot, and in many different settings. They like to sit on the couch and we will read them together. Or, we will bring them in the car, and they will read them as we go somewhere. Or I'll bring some to my 5yo's t-ball practice to keep the 3yo entertained. We have had the books for quite awhile and they are consistently read by both boys and they have not bored of them. We have five in the series (Puzzle Ocean, Puzzle Pyramid, Puzzle Mountain, Puzzle Jungle and Puzzle Planet), and they like all of them. Although, I'd say that Ocean and Pyramid might top out as favorites, but it's close. They want Puzzle Dungeon and Puzzle Castle next. I also enjoy the fact that the boys like to sit down together and read them as a pair. It's nice to see them sitting and doing that together. For the price, these are definitely a worthwhile purchase. Ours have also held up very well even though we've traveled with them a lot and they are read on soccer fields and random other places.

My four-year-old and I 'read' this book today for the first time. Since she is not yet a reader, she needed me to tell her what to look for in each picture. (In every picture, there are several "What is Waldo?" items to be found.) While she was entertained and it was a positive learning experience, I am not completely sold on the series. First, other than the "Where is Waldo?" puzzles and the plot (which is cute but thin), the book offered little else. There were very few other types of puzzles to solve. Second, the book requires that someone (the child or an adult) read the text in order for the puzzles to be solved. (For example, the child needs to know that she is looking for five clown fish on a given page.) Until my daughter becomes a reader, that means that the book will necessarily be a joint project -- which is great, but it does mean that it cannot be used in the car or as a 'quiet before going to sleep' book. Obviously, if your child is already a reader, this would not be an issue.

This is currently my 3 yr old's favourite book. She can spend hours and hours with it. There is lots to see and do in this book. Sometimes we sit and go through everything, but usually we will pick one topic to focus on. As an avid swimmer, she also really enjoys the under-the-sea theme. For our next big car trip, I'm going to stock up on a few more Puzzle titles!

Like all of the books in the "Puzzle" series this book on its first reading kept my children (6 and 4 years) occupied for an age. However what sets these books apart from other "look and find" puzzle books is their ability to be re-read again and again. Even though both my children know all the answers and where the "hidden" objects are, these books are read at several times a week at least!What is especially nice about this book is that the main characters of the story are two females, a young girl and a mermaid. It is not suprising that this is my daughter's favourite book of the series.