The Forgotten Village Mystery

“The Forgotten Village Mystery,” made for kids ages 7 to 10, turns your backyard, a park, or your house into an old stone village that its residents left long ago and wildflowers have taken back. A retired schoolteacher left five clues for anyone who wants to know why the village fell asleep: a sundial to read on a wall, a bell to find among several doors, the plan of a square to complete, a bread recipe in pictures to put in order, and a well to recognize by its stones. The kids move, search, compare, and figure things out, house to house, without ever going in circles: every clue points clearly to the next one. The book includes the clue cards, a village map to customize, an investigation journal to fill in, and a guide for the grown-up that sets up the trail in a few minutes. The game works for a small group or a big crowd of kids, indoors or out. At the last stop, the mystery is solved with a cheer and every player earns a Village Detective diploma to cut out and fill in. The guide also offers options for different places, backup hints, and a shorter version for the youngest players.