My husband and my mother are both crossword puzzle fans. While they love to receive a challenging crossword puzzle book, it gets a little monotonous buying the same gift over and over again.
Plus, as much as crossword puzzle lovers may enjoy doing, they can’t realistically complete crosswords all day long. So why not add addition fun in the spirit of crossword completion?
Here’s a few of my favorite gift ideas that the crossword puzzler in your life may love, too. They’ll delight anyone on your shopping list, but particularly those who love word puzzles.
Crossword Mystery Series
Solving the clues of a crossword puzzle and unraveling the clues in a murder mystery story show some remarkable similarities. The crossword puzzle mysteries by Nero Blanc are a brilliant combination of both.
Nero Blanc is the pen name for a husband and wife collaboration of Steve Zettler and Cordelia Frances Biddle. It’s named after the Italian word for “Black” and French for “White” – two popular clues in crossword puzzles.
With a dozen titles in the series, the mysteries follow a private investigator, Rosco Polycrates, and a crossword puzzle editor, Annabella Graham. They combine their talents to solve mysteries. Each book contains five full crosswords that the characters run across in the course of the story. Which are essential to solving the mystery. A sixth puzzle finishes each book.
The premise can become a bit strained. Just how many mysteries can be solved by the artful solving of crosswords? But, they’re so well-made and fun to do that readers and solvers will be more than willing to forgive!
Mensa 10-Minute Crossword Puzzles Page-A-Day Calendar
This calendar is a year of puzzles designed to be completed in the time it takes you to drink your morning coffee. But don’t be fooled— these artfully crafted challenges may be quick, but they are tough enough to be sanctioned by Mensa, the internationally famous high-IQ society.
Covering a range of topics including science, sports, entertainment, and more, Mensa 10-Minute Crossword Puzzles Calendar delivers the perfect balance of difficulty and fun. Solutions included, of course, on the reverse side of the page.
This is the perfect puzzling gift for the solver who has “done it all.” Now they can do it all daily! And keep track of their schedule.
“Wordplay” Movie
A “crossword movie” might not sound like an exciting show, but “Wordplay” pulls it off nicely. This documentary follows New York Times crossword puzzle editor Will Shortz as he talks about his job and personal history and oversees a dramatic national crossword puzzle competition.
The film also explains how crosswords originated and developed, and those who are interested in the “how-to” can watch puzzle maker Merl Reagle go from concept to completed puzzle.
It also features special guests such as Ken Burns, Bill Clinton, Bob Dole and the witty Jon Stewart – all talking about what crosswords mean to them. What’s more, the liner notes include five spectacular crosswords hand picked by Will Shortz, including “Laboratory Maze” which offers the puzzle enthusiast a maze after the crossword is completed.
Make it a family movie night and include a bucket filled with treats and popcorn to share!
Dual Challenge Crossword Jigsaw Puzzle
This 2 in 1 Jigsaw Puzzle Game has your solving the crossword first. Then players complete the 24″ x 18″ Jigsaw Puzzle.
Great gift this holiday season for any crossword or jigsaw lover that will keep the family, adult, or friend entertained for hours! High-quality, innovative, challenging, brain stimulating, STEM learning, engaging puzzle from Farrar-Nichols, edited by Rich Norris.
Putting puzzles together helps everyone build crticial thinking, problem-solving skills, and builds learning skills.
This makes a great gift for the skilled solver who wants to show off their puzzle completing chops.
A Crossword Puzzle Dictionary
Before purchasing one for a puzzle aficionado, make sure that they do not consider puzzle dictionaries “cheating” – many do.
But for those willing to swallow some pride to get some help with that corner of human knowledge they know nothing about, a crossword puzzle dictionary might be a good gift.
These type of dictionaries are unique in that they are organized by potential clue or subject and by length of the word instead of alphabetically. An electronic dictionary can even allow typing in blanks for the unknown letters and searching for matches.
The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Crossword Puzzle Coffee Mug
Perfect for the puzzle lover who likes to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while putting their solving skills to the test.
Each Crossword Puzzle mug comes complete with a pencil and clues to your first puzzle right on the box. Wash off the old answers and go online for a new puzzle each month!
This twelve-ounce mug is also dishwasher and microwave safe. A gift that will keep giving and truly be cherished!
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