Wacky Word Games

Christy Conte is a member of the Parents Advisory Committee at the
YMCA’s Parent and Child Enrichment Centre and a journalist.

Puzzle books are often self-limiting; once you’ve solved the riddles,
the book is used up. Wacky Word Games is more serviceable than most. By
using pictures as well as word clues, author Margie Golick has created a
book that can be enjoyed by both young children (with adult help) and
older ones. The author also makes suggestions for other word games,
further extending the book’s usefulness.

Wacky Word Games offers 14 whimsically illustrated puzzles. Most of the
games challenge children to come up with rhyming words, homophones,
descriptive alliterative phrases, or anagrams. A few are old favorites
such as the “words in words” game (How many new words can you make
using the letters in “meatballs”? for example). “Peculiar
Preferences” has a new twist, requiring the reader to recognize
patterns in silly poems. Directions for each puzzle are clear and easily
understood; the hints/answers can be found at the back of the book.

Wacky Word Games can be enjoyed alone (a great travel companion) or by
groups of children (a good birthday-party prop). Parents and educators
will appreciate this fun and imaginative title. Highly recommended.