A former editor at Games magazine, Karen Richards has been creating puzzles and games on a freelance basis for the past 20 years. She is the author of several puzzle books published by Disney, Workman, Sterling Press, and The New York Times Magazine.

Great for classrooms and free-time fun, these small but substantial challenges offer lighthearted, nonacademic approaches to a variety of math, logic, and verbal conundrums. Most of the puzzles can be completed in only a few minutes and are a perfect way to get children interested in mathematics ? adults will relish them as well.