In my opinion, design issues limit the educational value and merit of this puzzle. 1. The sizing of the puzzle is such that the New England States and New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. are sacrificed, without discrete puzzle pieces and state names and D.C. identified on discrete puzzle pieces. There are 40 puzzle pieces for the 50 states and Washington, D.C. West Virginia and Virginia are one puzzle piece, with colors designating shapes. Arguably, there is little if any learning value regarding the shapes of these states and D.C.; they are sacrificed. 2. The puzzle is advertised and labeled for ages 3-6 years. That, to me, seems a bit young given the stated "CHOKING HAZARD -Small parts. Not for children under 3 yrs." warning, challenges presented, and limited educational value, particularly regarding shapes.. 3. Limitations of this map puzzle, in my opinion, include precluding meaningful opportunity to teach and readily learn the most rudimentary history of the United States with visual assistance -- even at a young age. Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington, D.C. have neither discrete puzzle pieces nor images for reference and minimal learning. 4. Alaska and Hawaii are relegated -- without any geographic context -- to the bottom left of the puzzle as if footnotes. 5. Some of the images seem more dated than charmingly retro. Some images that can be understood and recognized do not reflect a clarity of design. For example, Arizona has a sombrero wearing cactus, Hawaii has a hula dancer, New Mexico has hot air balloons, Washington has the Space Needle, Georgia has peaches, Florida has a flamingo, Oklahoma has a singing cowboy. Illinois has Lincoln, Ohio has a cardinal, Indiana has car racing, Kentucky has horse racing/the derby, South Dakota has Mount Rushmore, Pennsylvania has the Liberty Bell, etc. Some puzzle pieces have state flowers, some state birds, some are problematic. And are those enormous potatoes by a tractor for Idaho? And the states denied discrete puzzle pieces are not provided with any imagery (meaningful or not). I am puzzled by some puzzle pieces and the entire design of this product. There is no consistency or messaging: What is to be learned from this puzzle? Shapes of states? No. Clear linkage of capitals with states? No. A consistent theme about all the states -- history, state birds, state flowers, nature, landmark? No. Some of the images on the puzzle may be considered puzzling to an adult; an explanation of some of the images would be useful. And is that a windmill designating Virginia? What are some of those images representing? 6. Under the puzzle pieces -- on the puzzle board -- are the names of each state capital. However, the shape of each New England state and other states/jurisdiction apparently not meriting an individual puzzle piece are pictured on the puzzle board under the shared puzzle piece, but without linking the capital to a specified state; D.C. is a red circle and a star. 7. The puzzle is not of solid wood. Some of the pieces are not completely separated. Reasonably, an adult should supervise, separate the pieces, and ensure they are not placed in a child's mouth. 8. This puzzle is sold under the name 'THE LEARNING JOURNEY' (Arizona, Made In China). In my opinion, a child would be challenged to be able to learn easily and well by this puzzle, especially at the designated age range -- not as a learning-plan challenge but because of design deficiencies. The packaging proclaims the alleged benefits of this puzzle to include 'Research" "Tactile Motor' "Thinking Learning.' I gifted the puzzle, with some sense of guilt after noting the puzzle's deficiencies. I am still looking for a USA map puzzle that better represents all states and Washington, D.C.
