SOLVED. Children's illustrated Map book w/ Games. Read 1990s. Maps: realistic places (similar to) historical cultures. Between pages is a smaller page you flip side to side to change the maps. Games like find best path thru caves w/o passing smuggler. [s]

[Kara]

I owned this book as a child in the 90's. It was a large book, in length and breadth, though not very thick. It featured large illustrated maps of different places and cultures. In the middle of each double-page was a smaller page (half the breadth of the normal pages) that could be flipped over from side to side to change the maps. The maps each had a type of game. For instance, the one map featured pirates or smugglers hiding in a cave. Your task was something like, 'find the best path through the caves without passing a smuggler' (I think the task was a little different but there were definitely guys in the cave!). If you flipped the half-page in the middle, the game would also change a bit. The illustrations were detailed and featured scenes from various times and cultures.

I have been looking for this book for many years and would really really appreciate any assistance, please.

[Spockles]

I can't remember the details of the books, but this made me think of The Magic Globe: An Around-the-World Adventure Game and The Magic Hourglass: A Time-Travel Adventure Game and Magic Crystal, The: A Wildlife Adventure Game which I loved as a kid.

[Kara]

Spockles, thank you, I have looked at those but do not find the covers familiar. If I could see any of the pages inside, I would know for sure yet none of the booksale sites seem to offer anything but the cover page. I really appreciate the help, though, and I will be sure to show these to my sister as she is as invested in this search as I am. Perhaps it will stir a memory. Thank you for trying to help :). Do your perhaps remember whether the books had the flaps in the middle that would alter the maps?

[Krista]

This reminded me of the Young Puzzles series, though I don't think they featured the middle flap.

Puzzle Castle

Puzzle Pirates

[Spockles]

Kara-Anja wrote: "Spockles, thank you, I have looked at those but do not find the covers familiar. If I could see any of the pages inside, I would know for sure yet none of the booksale sites seem to offer anything ..."

So I went and found The Magic Hourglass in my bookshelf, and it does not have flaps in the middle.

[Kara]

Krista, Spockles, thank you both for trying to help me. Alas, none of the above!
Krista, I did once read a Puzzle Castle book though and loved it :)

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Kara-Anja, are you still looking for this or did you find it?

[Kara]

Hello, I never did find that book, unfortunately :(

[Kris]

Kara-Anja, are the maps of realistic places on Earth, fantasy worlds, or fairy tales (e.g., The Once Upon a Time Map Book by B.G. Hennessy -- "As Cinderella and Prince Charming visit six fairy tale lands on their honeymoon trip, the reader can follow along using maps and directions, helping to find hidden wedding gifts and other objects." Consists of 6 fold-out pages and 1 pop-up. https://www.worldcat.org/title/once-u...)

[Kara]

Kris, my sincere apologies for the delay in responding. That was a wonderful suggestion, thank you. Unfortunately, it's not the book. I believe the maps were of realistic places, or at least very similar to them, and they were historical cultures. I don't think any of them were modern, or too fantastical.

[Lobstergirl, au gratin]

Still looking now?

[Kara]

I am indeed still looking! Funny you should ask, I randomly thought about renewing the search a few days ago. Any ideas? :)

[Kris]

Thanks for the update, Kara. Can you give examples of the locations and time periods illustrated by the maps?

I copied some book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

[Capn]

We've got a few good suggestions and sources for 90s puzzle books on this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... :)

There's a link at the end of the thread to a useful (external) site as well. :)

[[deleted user]]

Is it this one? https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
There's definitely a flip page, and I remember a scenario very much like the one you mention about a smuggler.

[Kara]

Firstly, let me just say to Kris and Capn, thank you both so much for the links, I appreciate your time and assistance very much, and I apologize for taking so long to respond.

Polly, you've solved it! Thank you from the bottom of my heart; this is a piece of my childhood that went missing long ago, and I can't tell you how much it means to know the name and have the possibility of finding the book again. Thank you so SO much!

[Kris]

Great! Glad you found your book, Kara. Thanks for the update. Sounds like a book I would have loved as a kid.

[[deleted user]]

I’m so glad! My pleasure!