I rarely review picture books. I spend a couple hours each day reading them to my 18m old and 4y old, and they start to blend together after a while. This was a fun change of pace. I was laughing out loud and so were my husband and four year old. We were still laughing after reading out for the third time that day. I loved my kid's reaction to the end, when she has realized that the answer to the riddle would be strange and unexpected and yet the final riddle still surprises you. I'm telling you, I want this in my collection. Not only is it funny, but it's serious brain science (whether or not Adam and Mac realize it).See, the thing is, I'm a fan of puzzles.* I'm experienced at looking for clues of all sorts. Of course I was solving the kinds of puzzles parodied here when I was a tot, and since then I've moved on to 'lateral thinking puzzles' and everything else I can get my hands on. But after reading this book, and getting so frustrated that I could not guess one solitary single revelation, my subconscious whirled around the experience. For several hours I had the sense that there was something about this book that I wanted to think consciously about, but my subconscious held out on me; the thoughts were elusive. Finally, as I was drifting off to sleep, I realized what the deal is. This book will rewire your brain, if you let it. If you've not read it yet, I recommend you spend real time trying to second-guess the author. You know the answer isn't the obvious one - so, what could it be? I doubt very much you'll be able to guess - and the shock to your brain can create whole new patterns of synaptic connections. Which is a good thing.Now, I don't know if kid's brains can have this same experience, seeing as they're not hard-wired yet. But for me, it was intense.*To clarify, for my followers who have been reading my reviews of puzzle books lately, I'm not really good at them. But I do keep trying!
What do You think about Guess Again! (2009)?
Families will love to share this creative and clever book. The guessing will be such fun!
—6226
A goofy time with riddles which don't end with the right rhyme- a giggle fest!
—MomaKat
It was really hard to guess. I didn't get any right. It was funny.
—McKenzie
Kids were totally cracking up. I thought it was clever.
—Jes
