As school gets out for the summer, parents everywhere are already preparing for fun, vacations and the inevitable doldrums. The following “puzzle” books offer an alternative to screens while keeping kiddos engaged.
Puzzletopia: 100 Perfectly Puzzling Adventures! may look like it’s for younger readers, but don’t let that deceive you. This colorfully illustrated puzzle book is harder than it looks, especially as you progress. A handy answer key at the back is available if readers get stuck or just want to check their work.
Murdle Jr.: Summer Fun! takes everything readers like about the Murdle Jr. and makes it pint sized. This 4×4-inch book is just the right size for suitcases and car rides. And with more than 40 activities, there’s plenty for readers to do.
Cluedle: The Case of the Grindstone Goblet is the fifth book in the Cluedle series. And just like the other books in this series, you can start with any book you want. At just over 200 pages, this book is likely to fill up hours of time. It features some more advanced puzzles, ideal for older middle readers.
You can learn more about the books below.
PUZZLETOPIA: 100 PERFECTLY PUZZLING ADVENTURES! by Workman Publishing, Workman Kids, May 5, 2026, Paperback, $9.99 (ages 8 and up)
Calling all super solvers! Boost your brainpower with mind-bending, super-fun puzzles.
Tame dragons, explore alien worlds, and hunt for hidden treasure while solving engaging puzzle challenges perfect for ages 8 and up. Grab a pencil and get ready for hours of screen-free puzzling fun!
Tackle more than 100 activities, including:
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- baffling brain teasers
- snappy sudoku
- mind-melting logic games
- perplexing picture puzzles
- mega math challenges
- and more
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to become the ultimate puzzle master!
While kids have fun puzzling away, they’ll also sharpen their critical thinking skills, build perseverance, and increase concentration and attention span.
Chock-full of tips and tricks, helpful examples, and clear instructions, Puzzletopia provides ample support to readers. And as kids’ skills get stronger, more challenging puzzles await them: divided into three difficulty levels, the book is accessible for beginners and for puzzle pros alike. —Synopsis provided by Workman
MURDLE JR.: SUMMER FUN!: 40+ MAZES, CODES, AND OTHER PUZZLING GAMES (MURDLE JR. MINIS, 1), by G.T. Karber, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, May 5, 2026, Paperback, $8.99 (ages 8 and up)
Discover the internationally bestselling Murdle Jr. phenomenon! Perfect for kids and families on the go, this thrilling activity book is jam-packed with hours of immersive puzzles including mazes, word searches, codes, and classic Murdle mysteries.
No one puts the cat in vacation like junior detective Buster McPaws! He is excited to snooze on a sunny beach—but he keeps getting pulled into the shady dealings happening on Oasis Island…
It’s up to YOU to crack the case so that Buster can finally relax and take the purrfect nap! Enjoy hours of kid-tested fun with a variety of puzzles, word searches, mazes, and codes that unlock the mystery. —Synopsis provided by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
CLUEDLE: THE CASE OF THE GRINDSTONE GOBLET, by Hartigan Browne, Workman Kids, May 5, 2026, Paperback, $12.99 (ages 9 and up)
Calling all sleuths! The fifth title in the Cluedle series of interactive mystery books for young readers takes place at Grindstone Academy, the most prestigious boarding school in England.
World-renowned Private Investigator Hartigan Browne has been contacted by the headmaster Basil Thumblethorpe to help locate the whereabouts of the Grindstone Goblet, a jewel-encrusted golden trophy given to the school in the 1400s by King Henry VI. Needless to say, it is exceedingly valuable.
Finding the goblet and who is responsible for the theft will take reader-detectives on undercover assignment as new students as they track clues to every corner of the school campus. Along the way, readers tackle 60 brain-busting puzzles, each holding a clue to solving the larger mystery. Only detectives with excellent brains and superior logic skills need apply.
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- WHY have all the books in the library been moved?
- WHAT is the “treasure of immense worth”?
- CAN the key to finding the Goblet be found in a poem by William Shakespeare?
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Packed full of codes to crack, evidence to evaluate, clues to unravel, and maps to navigate, Cluedle: The Case of the Grindstone Goblet is chockful of puzzling fun! —Synopsis provided by Workman Kids
Copyright © 2026 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
