Find: Big “Game”for Kids’ Room

Sunday, May 22, 2011

It doesn’t take a safari to earn a wall trophy and some bragging rights. If you can fit together a three-dimensional puzzle, you can proudly claim a rhino head without ever taking aim.

These puzzles are at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens gift shop*, and there are plenty of species to suit your adventure: the classic 10-point buck, a moose, a ram, even a fish for the sportsman who can’t otherwise produce a thrashing, scaly proof of skill.

While they would be fun in a playroom or boys’ room, the sculptural quality of these makes them fascinating conversation pieces even for adults. The elephant is probably my favorite, especially for the more subtle Tide fans out there who don’t care to decorate with FatHead decals.

The puzzles come in two sizes and range from around $8 for a small version to $30′s for a large (I can’t help thinking how a small version would be unexpected and fun in a cubicle office, if you can get away with it).

You can purchase some of the animals assembled, but what’s the fun of that? Save yourself the adrenaline of a hunt and create your game with a 3-D puzzle challenge instead.

*Remember, if you’re a member at the Botanical Gardens, you receive a 10% discount in the garden shop.