375+ pieces – My Jigsaw Journal

Wild Animal Park – Ravensburger – 380 pieces (Family Puzzle)

I had no idea that my favorite puzzle manufacturer made family puzzles! It doesn’t look like they’re being produced anymore, but I was happy mom came across this beauty on one of her thrift store runs. I enjoy working a family puzzle once in a while, even for just one person I think they’re an entertaining departure from the “normal” puzzle.

The entire bottom section has the largest pieces (approx. 55) and are the easiest to assemble for the youngest children; the top left of the puzzle has the medium sized pieces (approx. 80) and are a bit more difficult, and the top right of the puzzle has the smallest sized pieces (approx. 250) and is the most challenging section. This section isn’t easy, and if you’re not someone who assembles puzzles regularly you may find this section a bit difficult. I really enjoyed the fact that the adult portion of the puzzle wasn’t super easy, which I’ve found to be the case with some family puzzles I’ve worked. I found every section entertaining to assemble and it was hard for me to walk away from working on it. I get a little obsessed sometimes. 😏

I’ve enjoyed every family puzzle that I’ve done, no matter who the manufacturer is. I think they’re an excellent idea and great fun to work with others. I’d love to find more of the series of family puzzles that Ravensburger produced, as I think they’re one of the best quality family puzzles that I’ve assembled. They’re not too simple, and I think that challenging images/puzzles are important to keeping a person’s interest; every different section was just the right amount of challenging. I would definitely recommend this puzzle, it’s extremely well done!

*This is post number 500 for My Jigsaw Journal, wow!*

Details:

Title: Wild Animal Park
Artist: Unknown
Brand: Ravensburger
Piece count: 380 pieces
Size: Approx. 27 x 19 in. (69 x 48 cm)
Purchased: Used, thrift store

Quality:

Board: Excellent
Cutting: Excellent
Image: Excellent
Box: Quite large to accommodate larger pieces
Fit: Excellent
Puzzle Dust: Moderate amount
Piece cut: Grid cut
Piece shapes: Very good variety
Finish: Matte finish, lays flat

Overall Rating: Excellent, highly recommended

Safety First – Perfect Picture Puzzle – 375+ pieces

This is an extremely old puzzle, mom and I think it’s more than 70 years old – there’s an ad selling war bonds on the front of the box! You never know when you’re going to find something awesome at the thrift store. She’s so good at finding interesting puzzles, maybe because when dad gets on her nerves she goes shopping at all the goodwill stores. She gets annoyed often it seems! 😉

This was a cardboard puzzle, but so thick and sturdy that it feels almost like wood. The pieces don’t all actually connect, but where they do the fit is wonderful. I found this puzzle much more difficult than expected, which was wonderful and interesting. There were several spots where it was very difficult to figure out what went where.

The image itself is beautiful, but looking at the pieces separately they have an almost blurry quality. Makes for a more challenging assembly, and then when you look at the finished puzzle you wonder why you had difficulty at all. Deceptive! Loved it!

We can’t bring ourselves to throw away such a wonderful, old puzzle even though a piece is missing. I might try my hand at fashioning a replacement piece; that may be difficult though because the box is showing it’s age as well and wouldn’t work for copying the color. We’ll do the best we can, but even with the missing piece it’s a wonderful vintage puzzle. 🙂