The Greatest Dot-to-Dot Super Challenge Wins Two Awards

The Greatest Dot-to-Dot Super Challenge, from David Kalvitis at
Monkeying Around, has won two awards—one from a group recognizing
"games that make you laugh" and one from a magazine that focuses on
"nurturing creativity in children".

"You need a real artist to take a simple children's puzzle, like
Connect-the-Dots, and transform it into something worthy of mature,
adult-worthy consideration. A real artist", writes Major Fun reviewer
Bernie DeKovan.


"And that's just what David Kalvitis is, an artist.


Let me give you a few examples.


Stars puzzles: You start at number 1, as you would expect, and
continue connecting dots in order until you come to a star. Then you
have to look for the next number, which could be anywhere else in the
puzzle, and continue from that number to the next star. Jumping
around from place to place on the puzzle, you really have no idea
what you're drawing, sometimes until the very last star.


Arrows: You see this big field of arrows - no dots at all. Just
arrows. So there's absolutely no visual hints about what the puzzle
is about. You look for a circled arrow and start there, following
where it points until you come to another arrow, and you take off in
that direction.


Compass: Here, you get nothing but an array of dots with a few
symbols sprinkled in hither and yon. You look for a star and, then
read the directions printed above the puzzle. And I do mean
directions. Like, from the star, go: N (North), and then Wx2 (two
dots west), and then on and on, and if you do it exactly right,
you'll end up at an A. And then, from the A, you start on the next
line of instructions….


These are but three of the innovative, challenging and inviting
variations of connect-the-dots Kalvitis has created for us.


For an elementary school teacher, the different puzzle types involve
skills that are closely tied to the mathematics curriculum. For the
rest of us, they are an invitation to return to a deeply satisfying,
often remarkably peaceful pastime.


There are five volumes of the "Greatest Dot-to-Dot" series, so far.
The first four are a great introduction to the wide variety of puzzle
types. The fifth volume is most appropriately called "Super
Challenge," where you'll find puzzles that span two pages and
hundreds and hundreds of dots.


Each puzzle is a work of art in its own right. When you complete a
puzzle, you are rewarded with images that are themselves often
surprisingly vivid, sometimes rich in detail, sometimes spare and
subtle. Often drawn in perspective. Never stiff. Never blocky. Always
surprising."


In addition to the Major Fun Thinking Award, The Greatest Dot-to-Dot
Super Challenge Book 5 also received the Creative Child 2007 Book of
the Year Award.


Free samples of The Greatest Dot-to-Dots at: www.monkeyingaround.com


"The Greatest Dot-to-Dot" books are available at Borders Books,
Barnes & Noble, toy stores, and online at www.Amazon.com and
www.MonkeyingAround.com. The Greatest Dot-to-Dot Super Challenge
retails for $7.95. Ages 8 to Adult.