Any examples that you could share? Extra grid entry rules add to the enjoyment. For example, from January 2014 Harper’s, “Cross-Purposes”:
Part of the fun was figuring out how to make each change. Maltby’s clues are mostly unambiguous, so when you come up with a word or phrase that satisfies a clue you can be confident enough that your entry is the correct one.
When Maltby’s spellings are nonstandard or his entries are “uncommon” then his clues are typically easier than usual, so that the solver can figure out the entry. For example, “a Britishism” is clued as “Backpack made of batik, decorated with a bit of grass”, 6 letters. Its crossing entries, more-common US words, will also help the solver. For those who enjoy more challenging US cryptics there are now, thanks to Roger Wolff and others, books like Cryptic All-Stars and 50 Variety Cryptic Crosswords, both of which I finished and enjoyed very much.
When you prefer freshly-baked brownies, there’s always Henry Pitt, and he seems like an easy-going guy. Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon (they look uncontentious to me) did The Atlantic Monthly cryptics. When The Atlantic dropped them, I dropped The Atlantic. Cox and Rathvon’s clues can also occasionally be annoying. Despite what they have claimed, “Dalí” is not pronounced the same as “dolly”. But instead of kvetching (Larry with Herb?), anyone can instead try to design a puzzle of their own. (Town without tea, so it’s said?)
OK, the magazine is called Lingo: The Language Magazine for Young Readers. It’s just in the process of being launched so I’m afraid there’s nothing to see on the website yet. However, the first issue has already been produced and AFAIK anyone can get a free print copy (while supplies last) by writing to editors@lingozine.com. The magazine also has a Twitter account which has posted some sample pages. (I don’t think any of these show the puzzles, though these make up about 20% of the content.)
Incidentally, I also write the puzzles for Lingo’s sister publication, Babel. It’s also a pop magazine all about language and linguistics, but one aimed at adults.
I thought I’d drop by again to report that the Lingo website is now live, and the first issue is available to download for free as a PDF.
Also, Gedd, I’ve since gotten in touch with a fellow puzzle writer, Mark Danna, who has written a lot of puzzle books for kids (and many more for adults). Most of the kids’ books are of the word search variety, but some of them are also collections of assorted games and brainteasers. I’m having trouble locating a master list of all his books—perhaps not all of them are in print any more—though you could try browsing through his entries on Goodreads and Amazon.com.
I can also very heartily recommend Louis Phillips’s 263 Brain Busters, an eclectic collection of riddles, trick questions, and “lateral thinking” puzzles. This kept me entertained for hours as a kid. Much later I discovered that Phillips is a delightfully funny poet as well.