Classic Brainteasers

Rating:
Summary: challangeLESS
Review: My favorite part of Martin Gardner's "Classic Brainteasers" are the Logic Puzzles (although I was miffed when he actually provided a hint on one of them!). The Warming Up section might seem too easy to most children, but you really do need to be thinking "wrong" in the right way to work through these brainteasers. Yes, I am sure your kids have come across some of these before, but I am also sure they will find a couple that will stump them (hey, I did a lot better on the Science and Math Puzzles than I would have thought). Adults need to remember to concentrate on these when challenged by their kids or they risk being embarassed.

Of course, "Classic Brainteasers" is full of Wacky Wordles, Trick Questions, Proverbs and lots of other things that teachers can use on unsuspecting students in class. Since education is about learning to thinking as much as it is accumulating all sorts of knowledge, this would be a good thing.

Rating:
Summary: Okay, so, you think you're so smart, huh? Try this book...
Review: My favorite part of Martin Gardner's "Classic Brainteasers" are the Logic Puzzles (although I was miffed when he actually provided a hint on one of them!). The Warming Up section might seem too easy to most children, but you really do need to be thinking "wrong" in the right way to work through these brainteasers. Yes, I am sure your kids have come across some of these before, but I am also sure they will find a couple that will stump them (hey, I did a lot better on the Science and Math Puzzles than I would have thought). Adults need to remember to concentrate on these when challenged by their kids or they risk being embarassed.

Of course, "Classic Brainteasers" is full of Wacky Wordles, Trick Questions, Proverbs and lots of other things that teachers can use on unsuspecting students in class. Since education is about learning to thinking as much as it is accumulating all sorts of knowledge, this would be a good thing.

Rating:
Summary: challangeLESS
Review: The puzzles in this book seem to be intended for very young ages. The questions did not stimulate my mind and the explanations were not that clear. Elementary school students might enjoy this book, but if you're older I would recommend a different book with tougher questions.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book for Young Children
Review: This is another great book from the great Martin Gardner, who once wrote the Mathematics column in Scientific American. In this book, he is accompanied by an amazing illustrator, Jeff Sinclair. Sinclair's illustration combined with Gardner's ingenuity are what make this book so much fun.

I strongly recommend this book to those with young children, or for those looking for a fun present for a little boy or girl. The kids will love Sinclair's drawings and adore the book. The simply-stated problems and interesting solutions can provide entertainment for hours.

The puzzles are organized by categories. Gardner begins with a few pages of warm up problems, then proceeds into "word for word," a literary playground. He continues with a chapter utilizing Sinclair's pictures, then continues with tricky questions are teasers. The book finishes with science and math problems, more Sinclair in "Find the Mistakes," and finally logic puzzles. Overall, this book is 96 pages of fun!