9 Puzzling Mysteries

Andrew Gutelle's Workman Publishing activity pad drops young readers into nine mysteries, each one unfolding in ten daily installments through a rotating set of puzzle formats — scrambles, cryptograms, math problems, geography mazes. The variety is the real strength: no two days feel alike, and each format stretches a different skill while keeping the mystery moving forward. Designed for grades 3–5, the serialized structure rewards daily participation in a way that one-shot puzzle books do not. The honest caveat is practical: the tear-off pad format means it is single-use, and as a mid-1990s Workman title, finding a new copy today means hunting used-book channels. For a child who likes puzzles and a good mystery, this is an engaging daily ritual — just expect to track down a used copy.