My Favorite Puzzles and Games at Toy Fair plus a Giveaway!

This is the fourth in a series of posts about Toy Fair NY 2017.  The events span a week and I literally saw thousands of toys and took 1000 pictures.  And so I am organizing my reports in a series of posts as follows:

• Grandma’s Highlights of Toy Fair
• My Favorite Dolls
• Toys for Babies and Toddlers
• Games and Puzzles Galore
• Intriguing Building and Science Toys
• Books and Plush Pairs
• Toys with Characters in the Movies

This post covers games and puzzles.   Both of these are popular in our house and so I had lots of fun checking out what’s new. I am including something for every age  and my favorite thing about this category – every item is something an adult (grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, friend) can do with children.  We keep games and puzzles at our house and both are on tap when my grandson visits.  Extra note - no stock photos - with one exception taken at Toy Fair.

I am delighted to offer a giveaway of the Zodiac puzzle featured in this article.  See the giveaway details at the end of the article.

Zodiac Puzzle by eeboo

Zodiac 1008 Piece Puzzle by eeboo

Most jigsaw puzzles have a top and a bottom.  If there are multiple people working on them only one person gets to work from the bottom up.  But the square Zodiac puzzle provides a family challenge with all sides being an equal start – no top or bottom! And – the symbols glow in the dark!  25” x 25” when completed.  As all eeboo puzzles, it is made of sturdy, colorful pieces.  I am very happy to offer this puzzle as a giveaway with this post.  The whole family  - all generations - will enjoy putting it together and then again when it is completed watching it glow in the dark.

Bunny Bedtime by Peaceable Kingdom

Bunny Bedtime by Peaceable Kingdom

I included this game on my Babies and Toddlers Toy Fair post but it should be here too.  This hidden gem is a game designed for 2 year olds and it would be an excellent grandparent gift.  How do you play?  It's time for bed, Bunny! Players roll a chunky die and move Bunny on the game path. Along the way, players help Bunny make choices about her bedtime routine. Which bath toy will she play with? Which pajamas will she wear?  I just love this game idea.

Hoot Owl Hoot by Peaceable Kingdom 

This is an another game by this award winning company of cooperative games. Hoot Owl Hoot is not new but it has won numerous awards and is still a best seller for Peaceable Kingdom. In these games, players work together to win the game rather than against each other.  In this game the players work together to get all the owls to the nest before the sun rises and then everyone wins.  Here is a short video that shows how the game is played.

Sneaker Puzzle - American Style by Ravensburger

My Grandson with his completed Sneaker Puzzle by Ravensburger

My 7 year old grandson loves puzzles and when I saw this 3D puzzle that can be used as a pencil holder at Toy Fair, I knew it was for us.  You can see my review blog post here.  There are 108 numbered plastic pieces that must be put together in order but it is very manageable and Zach completed it with his grandfather just watching.  Very cool.  Very fun. Gets an intergenerational A+.

And to All a Good Night Family Jigsaw Puzzle by Springbok

And to All a Good Night Family Jigsaw Puzzle by Springbok

This family puzzle features pieces in three different sizes designed with large pieces on the outside for the young ones, and small pieces on the inside for more experienced puzzlers.  We have completed one of these "family" puzzles with our grandson when he was younger and it was a lot of fun to work on together.  Springbok has other puzzles in this format including an state license plates one.

Star Wars Monopoly 40th Anniversary Edition by Hasbro

Can we ever have enough of Star Wars?  Simple answer is NO.  This is a special 40th Anniversary of Star Wars Monopoly game from Hasbro. 40 Years!  Do you believe it? Do you love Monopoly?  Do you love Star Wars?  This game is for YOU!  Star Wars lovers of all ages will enjoy playing this together.

Miss Bernard is a Wild Card (Weird School) Game by All Things Equal

That's me with Dan Gutman

The very first game based on the popular Weird School books is coming out in June.  Here is an advance look at the box.  At my very last stop at Toy Fair when I could barely stand up,  I made a command visit to this booth and met author Dan Gutman in person.  My daughter had seen on facebook that the game was coming out and she asked me to look for it at Toy Fair.  Here I am with Dan.  Impressed my grandson more with this picture that the one of me with the ghostbusters.  Who knew?  I plan to do a full game review when it is available.  Stay tuned.

Zodiac Puzzle Giveaway Details

It is easy to enter and there are two ways. Both ways count as an entry so you get two entries if you do both.  I need to be able to contact you if you win. If you enter -  email me with your email address at  marion@grandmachronicles.com.  I will not use your email address for anything except to notify you if you win.  Grandmother’s Honor.

Two ways to win:
Leave a comment here on the blog

and/or

Like The Grandma Chronicles facebook page - click here.

You can have two entries by doing both.  Deadline to enter: May 10, 2017 at midnight. This item can be sent to US addresses only. 

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