Barnyard Babies Family Pieces: A First for Mr. Prather

by guest blogger, Elmer Prather 

My latest puzzle is a three-hundred-and-fifty-piece puzzle titled Barnyard Babies by Greg and Company. I chose to put this puzzle together for several reasons. The first is that I like the puzzle picture. The second is I wanted to see how it was to put a puzzle together where Cobble Hill had cut the puzzle in such a manner that there are large pieces, medium-sized pieces, and some small puzzle pieces to work with. It is my understanding that Cobble Hill used this cutting technique for the younger generation of puzzlers to be able to help older puzzlers put puzzles together and not get bogged down and frustrated trying to put a box of small puzzle pieces together.

After I put this puzzle together, I understood how this could help get our younger generation interested in puzzling. I was so impressed with this puzzle that I thought it would be a good idea to include Cobble Hill’s description of a Family Pieces Puzzle. Family Pieces 350 puzzles include small, medium, and large pieces so that everyone can contribute to the puzzle assembly! The pieces cascade in size from either side to side or top to bottom. This way, different puzzlers can work sections of the puzzle based on their preference for piece size. It is a great activity for families and friends - but if you decide to enjoy one on your own, we will not blame you because it is just too fun to pass up!

Pictures tell a story, and with this puzzle, the picture, and the title of the puzzle Barnyard Babies, are in harmony. The picture is of a tranquil farm setting displaying many babies that you would expect to see on a farm. There are baby chicks, baby ducks, a calf, a lamb and two bunny rabbits. I was raised on a farm so I am familiar with all the babies displayed in the picture. Some of the babies had their mothers with them and others did not.

When I put this puzzle together, I started with the large pieces, then the medium-sized pieces, and finally the small pieces. It was a fun puzzle to put together. When I finished the puzzle, I looked very closely at it and remembered taking care of the same type of animals shown in the puzzle picture when I was a young boy who had been given the responsibility to care for them at an early age. It brought back a lot of memories of my youth.

Barnyard Babies Family Pieces 350 by Greg Giordano