Book Review - Me vs. You: Head to Head Brain Races

Written by: Michael Sherman

Published by: Scholastic Klutz

Release Date: February 1, 2011

Source: Received from publisher for review

Ages: 8 and up

3.5 out of 5 stars - A very good toy.

Synopsis (from Klutz.com): Prepare yourself for a one-on-one, head-to-head challenge. Even better, a whole bunch of them. We took classic pencil games — word searches, jumbles, scavenger hunts, puzzles, speed mazes, and more — and added the thrill of competition. This is more than just a book. It’s two books, actually. Designed to be split into two hand-held pad-and-pencil sets, one for you, one for me, it’s the ultimate, low-tech, take-it-anywhere boredom buster.

I have to admit that when I recieved this in the mail, I set it aside for our Spring Break Road Trip. I knew that all of my three kids would need distractions and now that their ages span from 6 to 12 years of age, I knew that variety would be the key. So I tucked the Me vs. You, handy small clipboard-style pads into my Toy Bag. Sure enough, my 12 and 8 year-old asked for them immediately.

The content of the pads (which are perfectly sized for elementary school hands) varies from mazes to word scrambles to different styles of puzzles appropriate for the 8-12 year old crowd. The only thing that we didn't do is follow the recommended competition guidelines.

Both of my children found the games challenging and I liked that they worked to together to solve the puzzles rather than setting it up as a competition. It's the mom in me. I have to negotiate through enough tantrums, fits and general malaise every day without setting up a formal competition between them. The Me vs. You clipboards are definitely going to be our take-alongs to the beach and park this summer. Check them out next time you're in a book store.