Critical Thinking: Grades 4 - 6
Quotation Quizzlers: Puzzling your way through famous quotations
Author: Philip Steinbacher
Publisher: Dandy Lion Publications
For more information or to order: www.dandylionbooks.com

When you look at the title above, you may ask yourself the question, "What is a Quizzler?"  At least that's the question I asked when I first saw this series in the Dandy Lion Publications catalog.

Dandy Lion Publications specializes in books to help students advance in logic and critical thinking skills.  Quotation Quizzlers combine puzzle solving with the presentation of ideas by exploring quotes from famous people.  Perfect for sharpening problem solving skills, these unique puzzles strengthen the student's ability to see both the small parts of each puzzle and the way all the parts fit together to form a solution.

Each Quotation Quizzler is a grid with blank spaces and a choice of letters available for each.  When the correct letters are combined, they form words.  By starting with smaller words, one begins to cross off or eliminate the letters used, leaving the longer words easier to figure out using the remaining letters.  Although my explanation makes it seem easy, solving Quizzlers is not as easy as I've made it sound!  Written for 4th - 6th graders, I found most of the puzzles to be quite a challenge. 

Quizzlers require plenty of trial and error, as well as spelling and vocabulary skills.  The author provides a step-by-step sample Quizzler, which he recommends you use to introduce your student to these fun, challenging puzzles.  Of course, an answer key is provided.  Another great feature of Quotation Quizzlers is the inclusion of a brief biography of each famous person quoted in the puzzles, along with a listing of quotes alphabetically and by themes. 

Quotation Quizzlers provide a great way to strengthen and reinforce critical thinking skills, while introducing your student to some of the most influential people in history.

Making the grade: A
Cost: $11.95
Value for your homeschool dollar: 8
Reviewed by Cindy Prechtel, Editor