My grandmother loved the puzzles in her local newspaper. She did them all, though the crossword was her favorite, and shared that enthusiasm with a group of friends. I suspect they enjoyed a little friendly competition along the way.
My dad saved the puzzles from our newspaper for her, and bringing them along became part of going to see Grandma. We were always sad to leave her house, but she would send us off from her front porch, smiling, waving, and blowing kisses as we pulled away. That memory—and the everyday pleasure she found in puzzles—inspired Front Porch Publications.
Our own family has helped shape what it has become. My wife encourages our children to stretch themselves, whether they’re learning a game, trying a sport, or tackling something they haven’t done before. She had our children playing mahjong independently at five and seven years old, and even winning occasionally.
That willingness to try is something we hope to encourage through our books. An unfamiliar puzzle can look intimidating, but you don’t have to know how to solve it before you begin learning. Sometimes you’ll get stuck or need someone to help you see the next step. That’s part of learning, not a reason to shy away from it.
Our intergenerational puzzles bring that idea to the table, giving children and grandparents something to work through together. Sharing clues and comparing ideas can make room for conversation—and for each person to discover something the other knows.
The College Town Collection offers another way into those conversations. A familiar street, a campus landmark, or a favorite gathering place can bring back stories children haven’t heard before. Their parents and grandparents once arrived somewhere new, made friends, found their favorite places, and wondered what would come next.
Children often know us first through our place in their lives: Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa. A story about where we went to school or how we spent an afternoon can help them imagine who we were before they knew us.
Whether it begins with a puzzle or a remembered place, we hope our books give families something to enjoy together—and a reason to keep the conversation going.