Board Games Books

This is the coolest way to play chess and the only way I ever want to play chess. The game is twice as long as regular chess but it is twice as fun! At first I never realy wanted to play chess anymore but whith Knightmare Chess I want to play chess all the time. Trust me you should diffinatly get it.

This is the coolest way to play chess and the only way I ever want to play chess. The game is twice as long as regular chess but it is twice as fun! At first I never realy wanted to play chess anymore but whith Knightmare Chess I want to play chess all the time. Trust me you should diffinatly get it.

My 11-year-old loves this game! He's been playing "regular" chess for a couple of years, but when an adult friend taught him to play Knightmare Chess he enjoyed the game so much that he spent his Christmas money to buy it for himself. He and his friend play several times a week. The game is different enough from chess that they still enjoy a "normal" game, once in a while, as well. Thanks for expanding the use of the chess board!

We intoduced this book at 10 months. A month later our son was shouting "BOO" each time he turned the page. This is an excellent tool to promote early independence and confidence with reading skill. Well Done!

A real page-turned for the under-2 set! My 16-month-old son has liked this book for several months --- he even giggles at the pictures. I've also seen kids at the library interact well with this book.

We bought this book for my then ten-month-old daughter when she all she wanted to do was play "peek-a-boo." She absolutely loved it! She laughed every time Preston or Mr. Wolf said "Boo." We still read this book every day and it still makes her laugh. It's an absolutely fantastic read with wonderful illustrations.

This book is excellent. This book will open a gamer up to new possibilities and ideas. Lots of variants on common games like chess.

In this book we see games we have played many times, and have (maybe) become bored with, revitalized with clever ideas, enhancements and suggestions from the author. As an example, consider the section on balancing non-symmetric games (such as Chess and Go which have an inbuilt first person advantage). Bidding, simultaneous playing of two games and the ingeneous "I'll make a move and then you decide whether to play black or white" idea where one player makes a move that the other player has to decide is bad or good are suggestions that are useful not just in the context given, but in the design and evaluation of all games. Recommended for anyone who enjoys, studies, reviews or designs games -- especially strategy games.

Wayne Schmittberger is a longtime associate of Games Magazine. It's a lot of fun to tinker with games to see how they change. The growth in Chess Variants is just one aspect of this. He explains those well, along with variants on Go, Risk, Monopoly, and many other games. He introduces many games you probably haven't seen before. All of them are great games, too! If you are considering designing a game of your own, or if you just have a collection of games, you need this book.

I haven't met a toddler yet who does not like to play hide-and-seek. In this book, baby bear plays hide-and-seek from an adult (it could be mama or papa bear, depending on the reader) bear. The illustrations are very simple and not at all threatening or scary.

My toddler son LOVES this book. He's 22 months old now, and he's enjoyed this book almost daily for about 2 months now. He delights to see the little bear fooling (or so little bear thinks) the big bear.

Over and over again we read this book.

My toddler loves this book! She requests this charming book over and over. First I read it to her then I sing it. She giggles all the way through the book. She thinks the little bear is so clever! I enjoy the book as well; mostly I enjoy her response.

If done just right, the creatively adapted nursury rhyme still makes for an enjoyable kids' book: They're familiar with the original, and delight in the audacity of someone taking liberties with it. This is the heart of "Oh Where, Oh Where," a book that plays with the rhyme/song, "O Where, O Where Can My little Dog Be."

There's an easy, good-natured quality to Daddy Bear's (or, perhaps Mommy's) feigned puzzling over where his toddler bear can be. He's right in fron of Dad's couch, then bearly (sorry, pun intended) concealed under a book, crawling around the couch's big-armed sides, and pulling a big green patchwork blanket over his (and, metaphorically, his father's) eyes. The parent bear is all smiles, completely playing along, and even gives a huge gesture of surprise when Baby Bear energes from the blanket and says "Boo!"

The ritualized game (one gets the feeling from the ease and coordination of the bear's movements that they've done this before) concludes with Daddy Bear friendly invitation, "Come over to me." The story (and the song) conclude with a light and somewhat surprising note. Seeing baby bear snuggled up in his parent's arms, we read:

"A kiss and a cuddle I need from you,
Before we have our tea."

The couch is the only setting, and the colors are pretty much the same from page to page, but author/illustrator John Prator manages to inject lots of interest in his simple peek-a-boo story. Perhaps the key is the genuine-feeling warmth that he conveys, the playful spirit, and the relative proportions of the big parent on his or her big couch, and the little bear--little, but not so small that he can't get the adult's attention and love. It's sweet without becoming precious, insipid, or cloying.

I think that you, the adult, will actually enjoy reading this board book. Prater holds the reins in just enough, but he portrays the bear's intimacy and affection in a way that most illustrators would envy. You can bet a jar of honey that "Oh Where, Oh Where..." will inspire some playful hide and seeking at your house. 22 pages of sturdy board book, comprised of 11 2-page spreads, and first published in 1997 by Bodley Head Children's Books, the United Kingdom.

David Parlett has writen a magnificent book on the history of board games world wide. The book is well organized, clearly written and complete. It takes it's place along side the great work on games and game collecting, and is a "must have" for any game lover. It is hard to imagine a work more thoroughly or more loving prepared and it is clear that Mr. Parlett is one of the foremost experts on this subject. Each chapter is devoted to a subset of game type, there are dozens of charts ranging from "probability curves for binary lots" (two sided dice) to the "quantity of letters in Scrabble." 26 different Chess variants are presented with diagrams of the pieces and their boards, as well as board games from cultures ranging from the Aztecs to the Zuni and everyone in between. The only disappointment in this otherwise outstanding work is the lack of a complete bibliography on game study. But the book is meticulously footnoted and sources are listed at the end of each chapter. I have already made several of the games that Mr. Parlett had described in his book, to the enjoyment of my family and friends. This is not an "How To" book the strictest sense, but an invaluable tool for anyone interested in the subject of board games and their history.

"The Oxford History of Board Games", the latest book from British writer and games expert David Parlett, is a magnificent overview of the development of games over the millenia. Such a book is long overdue - the previous similar work was H.J.R. Murray's "A History of Board-Games", published back in 1952. Parlett however has the distinct advantage of another half a century of research, and this shows: His book even includes and discusses (not to say dissects) the Roman board game recently excavated by archeologists in Colchester, and rounds off with a chapter on modern board game design: Risk, Monopoly, Diplomacy, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and a host of others are to be found right there. Parlett is thus able to correct a number of the mistakes made by Murray, and adds considerably to the store of knowledge in the field of games. Parlett also in his book divides the games by a very logical classification, and tells about the historical development of each in turn. This book is in short a long-overdue milestone, and an absolute must for anyone with the slightest interest in games. Despite the thoroughness with which Parlett treats the subject, the writing is lucid, sprinkled with interesting cultural references and topped with occasional flashes of dry British humour. I cannot recommend it highly enough - and as a collector of books on games, with 1100 titles on my shelves, I should know. - Dan Glimne

David Parlet should be commended for his clarity and organization. The History of Board Games is an amazing resorce for anyone who is interested in the evolution, origin and history of games like chess, checkers, tafl, backgamon, fanorona, nyout, seega, alquerque, nine mans morris and many many other games.

This is a very sweet book with the right amount of repetition for our 17 month old boys - they bring me this book along with Each Peach Pear Plum (another Ahlberg creation) to read to them....over and over and over.

This is one of the great ones. At one level Peepo is geared to very small children. Each page gives us a different glimpse of a baby's day, as the adults in his world go about their obscure yet urgent tasks. Our initial view of each full-page illustration is through a big hole in the centre of the page. A rhyming text describes the picture, and asks "what does he see?". The beautiful pictures are full of the gentle humour and double takes that are an Ahlberg trademark and their depiction of family life is dead on. My favourite is the two little sisters fiercely contending for the right to hold baby, even as he pulls the victor's hair and does just about everything else he can to make her rue that victory. The text is sweet and simple, never cloying, and perfect for small children, with lots of repetition, rhyme and rhythm, yet enough variety to keep things interesting. It talks to the child the way I wish more adults would, in a forthright, yet sympathetic (and not patronizing) tone. That baby is priceless, and his antics alone are worth the price of admission.

What puts Peepo into the "great book" category, for me, however, is the deeper answer it seems to pose to the question "what does he see?". For the illustrations hint at a story far deeper and darker than the words suggest, and seemingly targetted at adults, not children. It's easy to ignore these hints at first, but as they accumulate Peepo begins to feel more like an glimpse into an Eddic realm than a toddler one.

I use this book as an intelligence test on my friends, since about 90% of them cannot detect this hidden story and miss the hints. It is also an interesting small group exercise, since a team of 4 or 5 working together can usually eventually work out there is something much more to the pictures than initially meets the eye.

I think Peepo is a powerful illustration of the argument that we refuse to see what won't match our preconceptions, since there are things in the Peepo illustrations I have never ever seen in another book aimed at small children, yet these just don't register the first few times you look at the book. Most people don't (and perhaps can't) answer "what does he see" correctly.

Peepo's hidden message is all the more powerful for its poignant subtlety. Lots of authors have tried to say what Peepo does, but none has ever succeeded so brilliantly, in my estimation. And those who succeed in decoding Peepo may find themselves confronting bigger questions, such as why is that message so hard for us to receive and what drove the creators to bury their treasure so deep, and with such incredible art?

I have never read another small children's book that has haunted me like Peepo. Once decoded, it leaves an aftertaste more reminiscent of e.e. cummings than more typical toddler fare. And "solving" it only multiplies the mysteries. Yet mysteries aside, it is a wonderful book for small children. I have had great fun reading it to the 2- and 3-year- olds in my life. Its hints of a darker world-drama beyond the crib never once overshadow the brilliant beauty and innocence of this book, at least for the young children it will be read to.

I strongly recommend this book for small children, particularly in the board book format for those who like to try to tear books (although the larger illustrations in the softback format are nicer). Some 4-year-olds and up may fancy themselves too sophisticated for it.

This is a book I often send as a gift for new babies. My son is two and a half and has loved to have this book read to him since he was a few months old. The concept is what a baby can see. The story is told in a catchy rhyme which is fun to read (a plus for the parent who reads a lot of books to their child!) and easy to listen to. The board book has the added attraction of cut out round holes to give us the baby's view of the world - 'Peepo!'. For the baby or toddler listening to the story this is a bonus as they can put their hands through the hole and add a new sensation to the experience. The illustrations themselves give a nostalgic view of working class family life in post-war Britain. They are crammed with detail and give the child plenty to look at and for while listening to the story. The best kind of story reading experience for the very young child.

"Quickword" is one of the most entertaining word games I have seen, or played in a long time. A few weekends ago we had some friends over for dinner and they brought the game with them for some post meal fun. And we did have a blast with this fast paced, entertaining game of skill and logic. The game involves a unique number of word skills, general knowledge, strategy and playing with speed under time pressure.

There are four decks of colored cards which determine the order of play. Blue cards ask the players to list all the words they can think of relating to a specific category, like "parts of an airplane." Green cards offer 6 categories and the players write one word for each, beginning with the letter indicated by the spinner on the gameboard. Pink and gray cards ask the players to perform other word oriented tasks.

Pencils, pads, timer, gameboard, cards are all included. For two or more players, age teen to adult - although I bet some precocious preteens could give you a run for your money! Highly recommended!
JANA

Played this for the first (but not last) time at a friends on Thanksgiving. My 13 year old son did not want to quit playing. We had lots of laughs, groans and good times.

Quickwords is something like a cross between traditional word games and a variety game (like Cranium or Quelf). There are five different games-within-a-game, and players travel around the board, trying to complete each challenge a predesignated number of times.

Word game fans of all kinds will enjoy this game. The challenges have elements of games like Scattergories, Scrabble, and many other linguistic challeneges. This game is not terribly well known, but it certainly should be.

I played this with friends over New Year's, and we nearly missed the fireworks at midnight because we were so engrossed in this game. It's a little slower paced than Scrabble in terms of turn length, but the anagram fun is doubled because you can use not only the cards in your hand on your turn, but rearrange any word on the board as well. One of the more strategic of the word games I've played, Royalty challenged the word-lover in me and introduced a level of competition to create the most elegant word beyond that in most other word games. Very satisfying.

My wife and I played Royalty for many years. We have tried many other word games especially an all time favorite Scrabble. Royalty provides a very good alternative to Scrabble. Game play Royalty presents complexities and therefore challenges that Scrabble does not have.

In Royalty a player can either play a word from his hand, capture an opponents word by adding cards to form a completely different word, or do both on any one turn. Like Scrabble a player can choose to return cards to the remaining deck. However in Royalty a player must return his entire hand and receive 7 new cards.

Royalty is a an excellent test of vocabulary and mental agility. You will thoroughly enjoy this game.

Royalty is essentially a form of Scrabble but played with cards. I like it because it can be played more casually than Scrabble, but it can also be played in a very competetive manner.



My wife and I play it regularly, for fun, without keeping score.



I am ordering a new deck because my wife gave her's to her sister.



The quality of the cards is good and the package includes a plastic case and instructions.



This game is suitable for ages ten and up. I am 51 and enjoy the game.



Play it for fun, as I do, or for keeps. It is easy enough for fun and complex enough for real competetion. A first rate card game.

This book is very well organized and easy to follow. The lists are in order of importance/usefulness and the introductions to each section are informative and entertaining. The only thing it's missing is a list of front and back hooks for the three letter words.

I've been studying it vigorously for a month or so and have seen a great improvement in my game.

A must for all Scrabble lovers, especially those aspiring to tournament play!

The original holy grail for hardcore Scrabble players has been updated to match the latest North American Scrabble dictionary. Whether you're a solid living-room player looking to enter the world of Scrabble clubs, or already a hardcore Scrabble junkie looking for the ultimate edge, this book has what you need to succeed.

This not only contains every acceptable word of eight and fewer letters, in two lists (one alphabetical, the other in "alphagram", e.g. aaaghlmpr, order), but also key starter lists and tools to help you learn the most important words as efficiently as possible. Highly recommended!

Word lists based on 4th ed OSPD; good price, comprehensive, indexed nicely, easy to follow and some really interesting lists (ie mnemonics for the top 100 7-letter bingo stems, words with 70% vowels, short words that take suprise "s" endings, etc). Baron has gone beyond just listing "the two's", "q without u's", "jqxz's" and "word-hooks", lists (although, these lists are included); and created a really great resource for Scrabble enthusiasts. Only complaint is that word lists are printed in VERY small font, so those of us with small print issues should invest in a magnifying glass.

My 2-year old son LOVES Sesame Street and he loves this book. Elmo, Zoe, Oscar, Cookie Monster and Big Bird are all "hiding" and when you open the flap, they appear. This book brings smiles and laughs to my little one all day long. In fact, I have had to buy a 2nd copy because the 1st copy is so worn and torn!

My daughter is 1 and loves this book! I recommend it 1000%. It is short and fun. It is a perfect little book.

We bought this book for our 15 month old grandson for Valentines Day. He can't put it down! He brings it to us when we visit and we read it over and over. It's a much bigger hit than Valentine's candy!!!