Ten furlongs are condensed to (7) inches, with very small horses, in the Desktop Derby, a 6-horse straight track that lets you win money while you teach the children the evils of pari-mutuel betting. The electric track pulsates and moves the nags along at a pace of about 45 seconds per race, with heart-stopping lead changes. The best part is that they're un-handicapable: a different horse, in a different lane, seems to win every time. Measures 9-7/8" x 3-1/2" x 2" high and runs off (2) "AA" batteries, included. (Stable the horses in the base between races.)

No wires, no batteries. Amaze your kids with this actual wooden puzzle. Semi-Tetris-ish, with (40) pieces that will take them a week to fit back into the 10-1/2” x 7” frame, and can also be used to make a bunch of different things. Called the Genius Puzzle, probably for reasons listed above. For ages 6+.

Our each is a standard set of (28) cream-colored, black-divot dominoes, sized 1-7/8" x 15/16" x 5/16" thick. Includes a wooden case and a tiny sheet with the rules for Double-Six, one of the endless popular domino games.

Wee-gee, like the photographer, is the most common way and no, we won’t get into where it comes from, although oui (yes) + ja (yes) is an old wives’ tale, and those are just a bad as old husbands’ tales. Just be grateful that there’s a way to communicate with another dimension, and that you could own a thing called a planchette. So take this 15" x 10" laminated board and the aforementioned 5-3/4" x 4-1/4" planchette and wait for your nervous system to spell out something. Guaranteed to be even more accurate than a magic eight ball and not to lead to demonic possession. For soothsayers 8 years and older.

It's nice to know that some things don't change. One is the Jacob's Ladder. Still made with (6) slabs of wood, each about 2" x 2" x 1/2", each a bright combination of colors, and all connected by a contrasting ribbon. Hold one end up and let the string of slabs dangle. When you flop the top block end for end, each lower slab in turn will flop end for end. Fascinating. Particularly if you are about 5 to 9 years old.

Imagine a game app, but in wood. Measures 6” x 3-1/4” x 3/8”, like an iPhone 6-Plus, but you never have to charge it and there’s no glass to break. Has (42) colorful geometric shapes in a wooden frame, and all you have to do is take the shapes out and try to fit them back in again, which is harder than it sounds, but that’s what puzzles are for.

Wireless, too. Return with us now to the thrilling games of yesteryear, when children tested the steadiness of their hands and eyes by moving BBs around in hand-held mazes. These are the upgraded versions, where the mazes themselves also move to make you extra-crazy. Our each is (2) maddeningly difficult BB (or dice) maze games, approx 3-1/4” square. Ages 6+.

Bored with looking at bicycles on the back of your playing cards? Sick of that one-eyed jack and the king with the ax? Add a little fun to your gin rummy with these full-tilt theme cards. Regular 52 decks, plus jokers, poker size, but with some of your favorites on both the backs and faces. You pick: Bigfoot; Harry Potter and friends; Bacon recipes galore; or a whole kennel of Dachshunds.

The draw-it-yourself jigsaw puzzle, just begging to have an invitation written on it, and then be mailed to potential guests as a handful of pieces. But this 28-piece cardboard puzzle also measures a desktop or car-friendly 6-3/4" x 4-3/4" in plain white, so it's also begging to have kids add a picture for the fun of it. It's even suggesting that you mix the 336 blank pieces in a pile, explain it's a dozen pictures of an albino moose in a snowstorm puzzle, which it might very well be for all we know, and award a prize for the first finished puzzle. Note the classroom and party-friendly bulk price.

Numerate, are you? Find out with these Ninja Assassin Sudoku books of (248) puzzles--(2) per page, plus solutions--in 176-page paperbacks. You pick the White Belt (entry-level to medium), Yellow Belt (easy to easy-medium), or Green Belt (easy-medium to hard-medium). By Frank Longo from Puzzle Wright Press. Best part is you can ignore the $6.95 cover price.