Is there an answer key in the back?

Yes. Every puzzle in the book has a corresponding solution in the back, which is a lifesaver for those 'super-solver' logic puzzles that can even stump the parents.

Is it too hard for a 7-year-old?

It depends on the kid. While it's labeled 8-12, a 7-year-old who is a strong reader or loves math will enjoy the mazes and Hidden Pictures, even if they need a little help with the complex logic grids.

Is this book 'one and done'?

Mostly, yes, since you're writing in it. However, many families use a pencil to allow for erasing, or use it as a 'pass-around' book where different kids tackle different types of puzzles.

How does this compare to a standard Highlights magazine?

It's much denser and focused entirely on puzzles. You won't find the stories, poems, or 'Goofus and Gallant' strips here—it's 100% activity-driven.

Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!: 125+ Brain Games for Kids, Mazes, Brain Teasers, Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Logic – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!: 125+ Brain Games for Kids, Mazes, Brain Teasers, Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Logic

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2019

94%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A 256-page brick of logic puzzles and Hidden Pictures that keeps kids busy without a charging cable.

Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!: 125+ Brain Games for Kids, Mazes, Brain Teasers, Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Logic

book

2019

94%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

A 256-page brick of logic puzzles and Hidden Pictures that keeps kids busy without a charging cable.

4.8

Jump to

Also rated on

4.8

View →

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

Our reviews and ratings are 100% unbiased, but as an Amazon Associate, Screenwise earns an affiliate fee if you buy a book or game by clicking one of our links. We don't get any credit if you just Google it instead :)

Screenwise Verdict

This is the ultimate 'keep them busy in the backseat' tool. Highlights has been doing this forever, and they know exactly how to balance a challenging logic puzzle with enough visual humor to keep a kid from tossing the book in frustration.

It’s a massive 256-page collection that feels more like a 'challenge' than a workbook. For parents looking to reclaim some screen-free time during travel or rainy days, this is a top-tier pick that actually builds cognitive muscle instead of just killing time.

Age Fit

Targeted at 8–12 year olds. It's perfect for kids who have outgrown 'baby' activity books but aren't quite ready for the New York Times crossword.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's Highlights. The tone is relentlessly positive, encouraging, and developmentally appropriate. No snark, no questionable content, just pure puzzle-solving vibes.

Imaginative

While puzzles have fixed solutions, the variety of visual brainteasers and logic games requires lateral thinking and creative problem-solving rather than just rote memorization.

Safe

100

It is a physical book with zero digital components, ads, or social features. The content is curated by a brand that has defined 'safe for kids' for decades.

Enriching

This is a cognitive workout. It hits vocabulary (crosswords), logic (Sudoku), visual processing (Hidden Pictures), and patience. It's the gold standard for screen-free enrichment.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Classic Highlights Quality ensures the illustrations are vibrant and the humor actually lands with the middle-grade set.
Logic-Forward Variety means kids aren't just doing 100 word searches; they're toggling between Sudoku, mazes, and visual riddles.
High-Density Value with over 125 activities in a 256-page book, making it a better value than thinner supermarket puzzle mags.
The 'Super-Solver' Hook gives kids a sense of prestige and challenge, encouraging them to stick with harder logic problems.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'Super-Solver' branding isn't just marketing; some of the logic puzzles and Sudokus have a genuine difficulty spike that might frustrate younger kids in the 8-year-old range.
It's a thick, full-color book, which is great for durability but heavier in a backpack than a standard activity pad.

Conversation Starters

"Which type of puzzle is your 'easy win' and which one makes your brain actually hurt?"
"If you had to design a Hidden Pictures scene, where would you hide the most random object?"
"Does it feel different to solve a hard puzzle on paper versus playing a game on a screen?"

Deep Dive

The Ultimate Puzzle Challenge! is less of a book and more of a training manual for kids who like to feel smart. Published in 2019, it remains a staple because it avoids the 'homework' feel of many educational activity books.

What sets this apart from the generic puzzle books you'd find at a drug store is the variety. You're getting the heritage of the Highlights Hidden Pictures brand, but it's layered with legitimate logic puzzles and Sudoku. It’s specifically branded for 'super-solvers,' which is a clever psychological nudge for the 8-to-12-year-old demographic. At that age, kids are starting to crave mastery, and finishing a 'tricky' logic puzzle provides a much more durable hit of dopamine than finishing a level in a mindless mobile runner game.

From a literacy standpoint, the word searches and crosswords are great for vocabulary, but the real win here is the perseverance strand. Logic puzzles require kids to sit with a problem, try a path, fail, and backtrack. In a world of instant-feedback apps, that kind of 'slow thinking' is a skill that needs intentional practice. If you have a kid who is a 'fast' reader but struggles to slow down and focus on details, this book is a perfect corrective.

What Parents Ask

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic

Writing about Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!: 125+ Brain Games for Kids, Mazes, Brain Teasers, Word Searches, Crossword Puzzles, Sudoku, Logic ? Put this WISE score on your site