Mosaic Mysteries is a puzzle pattern toy from Discovery Toys. Included in the set are a plastic tray and 100 colored, plastic pattern tiles. Included with the toy is A Mosaic Mysteries Pattern Block Design Activity Book. Users recreate 50 mosaic patterns that start simple and progressively become more advanced and challenging. The pattern block colors included are yellow, orange, teal, and purple. Some of the designs in the book are in black and white, allowing users to choose their own color combinations. The black and white pictures are in four various shades of black and white which correlate to the above color scheme. For example, white would be yellow, light gray would be orange, teal would be dark gray, and black would be purple. Further on in the book, the designs are more challenging because they are only partially completed, and users must finish the pattern based on the section given. Of course, users can also create their own unique patterns. The cost of Mosaic Mysteries is $25.00.

Mosaic Mysteries would be perfect for the school, daycare, homeschool, or home setting. The intended age is 8 years and above. All learners would benefit from this puzzle. There are so many benefits such as:

• Matching colors and shapes
• Arranging shapes
• Strategical positioning of pattern tiles
• Visual discrimination
• Matching patterns
• Identifying shapes within created patterns
• Creativity in making your own unique patterns
• Attention to detail
• Fine motor skills
• Patience
• Reasoning
• Feeling a sense of accomplishment when completing puzzles
• Critical Thinking

I decided to leave this out on our kitchen table to see who would be interested in trying it out and over several weeks all six of my children, my parents, my son-in-law, and I played with Mosaic Mysteries. My mom comes over about twice a week and when she first saw it, she asked if she could play with it. She spent at least 45 minutes working through pattern after pattern. The next week both she and my stepfather came, and he got in on the action as well. He had fun tinkering around with various puzzles and creating his own. My 12, 14, 17, 19, and 20-year-old kiddos would spend time during their downtime or while we were all in the kitchen together working through the puzzles. My oldest daughter and her husband come over quite frequently and they both have fun with Mosaic Mysteries. They are both a bit competitive and would see who could do a pattern the fastest.

Like I already stated above, the pattern book includes patterns that have varying degrees of difficulty. Some patterns are in black and white, some are in color, some are part color/part black and white, and some are partially revealed. I enjoyed playing with Mosaic Mysteries. I found it to be very relaxing and a great brain game. I know that my whole family has enjoyed having it around. It has been a great activity when they need some downtime from schoolwork. When we are sitting around the table talking many times someone will start playing with it. Mosaic Mysteries is great for keeping one’s hands busy. The one negative that I have to say about the product is that the colors in the booklet do not match the color tiles in the set. For example, in the booklet, the purple color tiles are a magenta color and the teal color in the booklet is green. It would have been nice if they could have matched the color tiles and the colors in the booklet better.

I would most definitely recommend Mosaic Mysteries. This puzzle toy would be a fantastic addition to holiday shopping lists. It is fun for both children and adults.

-Product review by Jennifer Ladewig, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, September 2020