Melissa & Doug USA Map Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle

by Melissa & Doug

Product Features

• For ages 5 and above
• Dimensions: 12 x 18 in.
• Wood pieces shaped like each state
• Each piece features state nicknames on front
• State population, motto, size, capital and year of statehood featured on back

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 11.5 x 18.1 inches ; 1.9 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00000JBLI
• Item model number: 95
• Our recommended age: 5 - 8 years
• Manufacturer recommended age: 5 - 9 years
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,028 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
  • #64 in Toys & Games > Puzzles > Jigsaw Puzzles
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)

Product Description

Challenge your child's geography skills with this United States wooden map puzzle. It features colorfully illustrated pieces in the shape of each state. The pieces lay in a wooden tray that have the capitals and each state's outline under the pieces to aid your child in learning. Also includes each state's nickname on the front and state facts on the back like population, motto, size, capital and year of statehood. Measures 12" x 18".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Educational Toy!, June 18, 2001

By 

M. Mikeska (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Melissa & Doug USA Map Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle (Toy)

I bought this for my son's 5th Birthday and he loves it! He wants to put it together every single day and is getting better and better at recognizing the states' names and their geographical locations. Next up...the capitals! I recommend this to all parents concerned that their children aren't learning US geography as they should. And I confess that this puzzle has certainly helped refresh my memory of the states and their capitals, too.

74 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not so deluxe, May 1, 2006

By 

Faye Ku "I cook by the book" (Bellevue, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Melissa & Doug USA Map Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle (Toy)

The only thing deluxe about this puzzle is the fact that it's made of heavy duty wood, so it's very durable. My son has had this puzzle since he was 3, and he is still enjoying it at age 5. He likes it very much and has learned a lot about states from using it. However, I think any states puzzle would be educational and fun. A person should rate the puzzle against other similar toys, and this one could use a lot of improvement.

As other reviewers have mentioned, the shape of Michigan (and Maryland) is cut wrong, many New England states are bunched together into big clumps, all I'm assuming so that the puzzle is easier for little tykes. The capitals are only shown under the pieces. They chose to put the nicknames of the states on the front of the pieces instead, and only some of the states merited a picture of something associated with that state. Many have no picture at all, or in the case of Hawaii, the picture actually obscures the shape of the islands that make up that state. The bold black outlines of each state just make for ambiguous or even inaccurate borders and no way to see which borders are actually natural boundaries like rivers. I find myself wishing I still had my little cardboard puzzle from my childhood, which had more accurate rendering of all the political boundaries, each state cut out separately, and all capitals located on the front of each piece with its star in the right location. I'm looking forward to when my son will graduate to a big boy states puzzle.

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparks interest in geography, December 12, 2001

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Melissa & Doug USA Map Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle (Toy)

I bought this for my daughter two years ago, when she turned 5-years-old. Within a week, she knew her states and capitols. What a great learning tool. She was the only student in her Kindergarten class who knew her capitols - not because we drilled her with them, but because she couldn't get enough of this puzzle! She is the oldest of my 3 children, and her siblings, ages 5 and 3, are both learning states, too. It is a good, solid, learning piece, that doesn't rely on a bunch of bells and whistles to keep kids interested. Best of all, it may be the only puzzle my kids have loved enough to make sure they never lose a piece!!! It's probably the best toy I've ever bought my children, and has withstood the test of time. I highly recommend it.