This Friday’s edition of “Gifts for the Gifted” may be a blast from the past if you ever went on long trips as a child without the benefits of electronic entertainment systems.
When I was little, preparing for travel consisted of packing a bunch of books to read and a few books of puzzles. I can’t remember ever flying in a plane without one of these invisible ink books.
You can still find them in stores. On the rare occasion I visit a Cracker Barrel, there is usually a display of invisible ink books. Most of the ones you see these days are products of movie advertising, like Toy Story or Frozen. But I was amused to come across some of the classics while browsing the “New Products” section of MindwareOnline.
My absolute favorites as a child were the Mr. Mystery Secret Agent Spy ones. (You can find More Mr. Mystery and The Return of Mr. Mystery online as well.) I loved the challenge of the puzzles and the independence that the invisible ink pen gave me to become a detective in my own imaginary world.
I got my daughter one of these a couple of years back for an upcoming trip, and I think she enjoyed them just as much as I always have. Of course, in retrospect I probably should have gotten one for myself, too!
For more ideas for gifts, check out my Pinterest Board.
