Melissa & Doug USA Map Wooden Puzzle (45 pcs) – Educational Geography Learning Toy
Discover the joy of learning geography with the Melissa & Doug USA Map Wooden Puzzle. With an easy-to-assemble 45-piece design, this educational wooden puzzle brings the USA map to life in a fun and interactive way. State capitals are cleverly placed under each puzzle piece, while additional state facts such as mottos, populations, and years of statehood are included to enhance the learning experience.
Watch as your child’s hand-eye coordination, problem-solving abilities, and geographical knowledge develop with each piece placed. This wooden puzzle is not only educational but also a great way to engage children in screen-free fun.
Designed for kids aged 5 and up, this USA map puzzle makes an exceptional gift choice. Add it to your collection of Melissa & Doug puzzles to provide an engaging and educational playtime for your child. Melissa & Doug, a brand known for sparking imagination and creativity, brings you the gold standard in early childhood play.
Dana –
4.0 out of 5 stars
USA Map Puzzle
This puzzle is very educational and fun! Each peice has a picture of something according to what state it is. California has the Hollywood sign and a sequoia tree; Alaska has a polar bear and the Northern Lights. On the board under each peice, is the state’s capitol. On the back, is each state’s population count, state flower, state bird, and motto. You could make up countless games and thing to talk about while playing with this puzzle. I also like that the peices are shaped like each state, which is just another aid in learning them.I am giving this puzzle 4 stars instead of 5, simply because some of the peices are difficult to fit. We had a similar puzzle years ago (not Melissa and Doug brand) and those peices fit perfectly, so I guess I’m comparing this puzzle to that one. Younger kids may get a bit frustrated with some peices and need assistance. That may just be our puzzle though, maybe others are cut ever so slightly different and would be fine. I want to stress that this is very minmal and I would still purchase it again. I may have even upgraded to the more expensive Map Puzzle by Melissa and Doug!I highly recommend this puzzle to anyone looking for a fun, educational toy that simultaneously teaches geography!
One person found this helpful
Patricia A. –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Buena calidad
Bien hecho, bueno para aprender jugando. Me gustó!!!!!
One person found this helpful
sdstren –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solid pieces with great graphics.
My seven year old grandson loves this puzzle. I like that the pieces are thick and sturdy, unlike cardboard puzzles, so it will last a long time.
Ann Sherry –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect Gift for Smart Granddaughter
Now this will get one of my granddaughter’s head away from her IPAD! She is like a little sponge now, just soaking in everything new she can learn and it’s wonderful. What could I get her that could possibly compete with her devices? This puzzle! A puzzle of all 50 states, individual pieces. I did not take the cellophane off to see if the pieces were actually wooden. But the frame is, and it says on the package the puzzle is “wooden”, so I’m not sure if the pieces are wooden or a cardboard type. She is so careful with her things, so either way I need not worry. I think she will be delighted to see the United States and where they are in conjunction with one another. This is a Melissa and Doug toy, which I’ve noticed are of good quality. I tend to gravitate toward this brand.
6 people found this helpful
Mary –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Whoever cut the pieces can’t follow lines very well
Wanted a map puzzle for my child to learn the states and become familiar with their shapes and locations. I picked this one because the pictures on each state were cute and I liked their design better than the other choices. Was not dissapointed with the art work but the shapes are terrible!! The cuts do not match up with the lines at all! The shapes are extremely oversimplified so shouldn’t have been that difficult to cut properly! For example the top half of Texas is attached to the Oklahoma piece, and part of Montana is on Idaho. The inaccuracy of the cuts is so annying to look at. I bought this for my 5 year old to play with, but did not expect it to be drawn and cut by a 5 year old.Also some of the tiny New England states are lumped into single pieces. They have their individual shapes drawn underneath but very hard to distinguish them on the piece itself.
6 people found this helpful
Zsolt –
2.0 out of 5 stars
The smaller states are put together on One piece and the pieces don’t match the lines perfectly
I’m definitely returning this. I didn’t realize that some of the smaller States don’t have their own peace. Also, I have no idea why but the pieces don’t match up to the lines exactly. Very disappointing and I’m definitely returning it
Creative Shopper –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice, little educational puzzle
My little grandson was curious about where we live so this seemed ideal. I haven’t had it very long but he has already learned some valuable information in a week’s time. The pieces are in the actual shape of the state except for some of the smaller states which are grouped together. He’s learning that the bigger states are out west and he’s learning to spell and pronounce the state names. This little puzzle is a great learning tool and allows for teaching in other areas. For instance, there’s a picture of a buffalo on Wyoming which allows me to give him some information on the buffalo. We talk about people we know who live in the various states. My grandson’s nine-year-old sister decided she wanted to play with the puzzle, too. For her, it was great that the state capital is written inside the state shape on the board. So while she was more familiar with the location of the states, I had the ability to offer some instruction on state capitals. This is a great little puzzle and I highly recommend it!
15 people found this helpful
katie –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good puzzle
There’s only 2 things I didn’t feel completely satisfied with in this puzzle.1, which may well be less of a design flaw and more of a necessity, is that many pieces aren’t cut true to the border and so might imply a different shape for the effected states.2, while the pieces do all fit as they should in the puzzle, sometimes they fit a little too snug. This likely isn’t a problem for older kids but my 3 year old winds up thinking he didn’t choose the correct location for a piece.All in all though I like the puzzle and feel it’ll help my son to learn the states (and myself too!)
3 people found this helpful
Megs –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great but a little harder than I thought
Product is good quality, no rough edges. I love the design and the image on each state plus the little info on the back. Only thing is that is definitely for an older child, maybe 5 or older. My girl is 4 and great with puzzles but the pieces don’t really go together like traditional puzzle pieces. They are the accurate map shape and some are quite small of course so its more challenging. She can still try to match the shape to the right state since there is an outline for each state. Fun to work on it together.
Jane Z. –
4.0 out of 5 stars
It’s puzzle time!
My 2 year 3 month old son loves puzzles. He already got bored with peg puzzles and flat puzzles with big pieces now that he’s 2 so we looked for other options. I found this online and I thought he would really have a hard time with it but at least would challenge him constantly. Gave him this puzzle about a month ago and less than 2 wks after playing with it, he is able to put all the pieces back by himself! Occasionally he would have a hard time with some New England states but the patterns on the board help him figure things out. Overall I’m pleased that he’s developing fine motor, perceptual, problem solving skills and having fun at the same time. This gives him a break from outdoor play, music time and other activities he loves. He would often pull my hand and ask “Mommy, puzzle please” and point to this first. I love that it’s wood and not cardboard although some markings of the states are getting smudged at the edges by this time. I have also incorporated teaching him the facts for each state found at the back of the board. Definitely educational and fun for our little one!
One person found this helpful
Cassandra E. –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great grandson loves it!
It replaces one he had that was lost. He loves doing US puzzle more than others & has been a whiz at since che was 4- He’s 5 now. Product is well made & should last a long time.
Junior Mint –
5.0 out of 5 stars
4yo loves it
I thought it would be too hard for him, but my 4.5yo loves it! He needed some help at first with the smaller states.
Kathy Warnick –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Getting my shipment on time.
Great puzzle map.
Thom –
5.0 out of 5 stars
It’s a great learning tool
It’s exactly what I wanted for a young adult who doesn’t know geography. It’s a great learning tool of good quality.
RML –
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Big Hit!
I bought this as a 5th birthday gift for my neighbor’s daughter. She LOVED it. We had to take the cellophane off it straight away so she could have at it. She’d rebuilt the East Coast twice while I was watching!!! Much more durable than a normal puzzle…so I’m hoping her 18 month-old sister will some day use it too. We had a good discussion about the states too so, some learning will be going on as well.
MelissaMelissa –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not as good as previous version
I purchased this puzzle because we had an older version and had lost a few pieces. Upon unwrapping I noticed the puzzle was much more lightweight and made more cheaply. Not only were the pieces more lightweight but the way the states were labeled really annnoyed me. There are states on the East coast that are grouped into 3 puzzle pieces with no writing. Instead the state names are on the base of the board. When you’re putting the puzzle together you basically have to save those 3 pieces for last because it’s hard to figure out where they go. I’m trying to help my son learn the state names so I think they could have designed the whole thing better.
3 people found this helpful
Timothy Manton –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Serves its purpose!
For the price it is good. The states are shaped correctly but the designs on the pieces are slightly off. It serves its purpose of showing the states, the capitols, and where they are located in the US. I would purchase as a gift for other children.
Deep in the Heart of Texas –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Poorly cut pieces
I looked all over to find a wooden puzzle that was well-made, each state was individually cut, and had capitals. This was the closest I could find for what I wanted. I wish the capitals were on the actual pieces instead of underneath, but I knew what I was getting so I didn’t dock the rating for that. I did dock It, however, for the really poorly cut pieces. I saw some reviews that mentioned it, but I had a hard time believing Melissa and Doug would consistently produce a subpar product. But there’s no excuse for how poorly cut some of the states are. I want to return it but there doesn’t seem to be anything else out there to replace it with it. Idaho, Texas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, West Virginia, Alabama, and Florida all have issues. And some of the north eastern states are indecipherable. Do better M&D. Where’s your quality control???
KaylaKayla –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great puzzle!
We just received this puzzle and really like it. The puzzle was made well and the pieces go together really well. Under each state is listed the capital and on the back of the puzzle are facts about each state. Great for learning at home!
Feriha Berrak Kocaoglu –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great learning source
Playing with this while we sign, “fifty nigfty united states”. Its a great learning tool with Melissa and Doug quality.
Victoria Medford –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Exactly what I was looking for
My 5 year old has shown interest in learning states on our map of the U.S.A, so I decided to buy him this puzzle to help him learn while having fun. He absolutely loves it, and will run back and forth between the puzzle and the map to match up each of the states. Each state has its own piece, except for a couple sets of the smaller states along the east coast (which I am glad for, because those pieces would be too small to keep track of otherwise). I have nothing bad to say about this product. It is easy to back together since the state boarders are clearly printed on the puzzle base, the state capitals are listed under the pieces, and there are even extra facts about each states on the back of the puzzle.
WMV –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice sturdy wooden pieces
I like the sturdy feel of the wooden puzzle pieces. The top coat appears to be glued on thick magazine-type paper. I’m not sure how that will withstand time and use by children. I like that the capitals are listed under the State-marked puzzle pieces and that the state shapes are outlined on the puzzle board.
Lauren H –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nice puzzle
Classic and easy to use, my son loves doing this puzzle and learning some geography all on his own
ShereeSheree –
4.0 out of 5 stars
One piece!
Delivered to my granddaughter, as you can see a piece is missing and the box had a hole in it I’m guessing how that piece got lost. She loves the puzzle though
GramBBB –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great way to learn stares and capitals!
Bought this for a friend who has a grandchild who is learning states and capitals. Works great!
Abigail –
5.0 out of 5 stars
As shown and it’s cute and educational
The only thing I did not like was it has the city’s and capitals under the states and so it threw me off lol when I went to try and find the place for a state cause I was like where is Colorado? Oh it’s under Denver. I think that may confuse a toddler. Other then that tho it’s cute and smart and good for kids to learn
Nicholas Cordone –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Kid on road trip.
We went on a long road trip. This was a great toy to show my kids where we live in the USA and where we were traveling.
CarlaCarla –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Purchase
As a homeschooler I am always looking for visual aides to help me in teaching my daughter. This was the perfect product to help her learn not only the 50 states, but also their capitals. I would highly recommend this.
2 people found this helpful
targa –
5.0 out of 5 stars
educative gift for children
When l was a teen-ager in France, an American family l baby-sat for gave me a puzzle of the United States… l did not realize it was a great gift but l still have it and occasionally take it out. l have been giving private American English lessons to three young girls (6 to 12) who “cant wait to get older” so they can accompany me to the US. This will make a perfect and educational gift when l return home, after the Holidays.
SandPiperSandPiper –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful so far.
I will admit: I have only owned this for one day. But, I uploaded some pictures to show the overall quality and construction for anyone who is interested in details. The individual puzzle pieces are a sturdy 5mm thick. The puzzle board itself is 1cm thick. I love how the puzzle *pieces* say the name of the state, whereas the puzzle *board* lists only the state capitals. Kids can’t just match up words, they have to think about what they are doing, and…so did I. 😛 You can’t put a state piece in its place without noticing its capital. Great way to learn!As for the east coast pieces, Main has its own piece. Vermont and New Hampshire share a piece; as do MA, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and DC all share one piece. Pennsylvania has its own, as does NY. The grouping of the eastern states is great for 2 reasons. One, the pieces are bigger and less likely to be lost. And two, little fingers would have a hard time maneuvering those tiny states into place if they weren’t grouped.I like how there is a compass on the puzzle and how the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans are labeled, as well as the gulf of Mexico. Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario are also listed *on the board*. The only things I wish the puzzle had were a depiction of where Mexico and Canada are, as well as some way to represent where the major mountain ranges are. But then, it may look too cluttered if it had all of that.There is a nice color finish to the puzzle board and pieces, however I can’t say how well it would hold up to a toddler scratching/biting it or water being spilled on it. But for my 8 year old: it looks perfect in every way. Melissa and Doug have won me over yet again.”Melissa & Doug United States of America Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle Capitals & State Outlines Under Pieces Ages 5+”.”CC12249. USA Map Puzzle #3797. UPC 000772 037976″Purchased Feb. 2013
226 people found this helpful
asells –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Nice but challenging
I really like that this puzzle is sturdy, easy to read, and has nice pictures on the states. It is a little difficult for my 5 year old to assemble because the board has the capitals of the stages, not the state names to match the pieces. There are also some weird random pieces up in the New England area that don’t have anything on them. I originally thought these pieces were broken from a larger pierce, but we eventually got them to fit in the right place. My son and I enjoyed putting this together, just took a little longer than I had anticipated.
One person found this helpful
Kimberly A Guarini –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Under impressed
Melissa and Doug items are always my first choice to purchase because of the durability and price. This map was beautiful on the front side but once you pull the pieces out to find out the capital the underneath is simply boring. It simply is white with black lettering. I would have liked it better if thre were more colors on the underside of the puzzle. It simply looks like they ran out of ink and time when finishing this product. Overall its a nice piece and will teach children the states, capitals, birds etc. but I would have liked more.
Kindle Customer –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can’t go wrong with Melissa and Doug
Great products.
Jennifer Martin –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best state puzzle for the price
First let me start with the cons – the pieces are not cut precisely along state lines, and the pictures clutter up the states. Could you find a better state puzzle with nice knobs on each piece and no “crap” drawn on the pieces? Sure! But be prepared to shell out $50-$100.For ~$15, this is a great substitute! After a month or so of practice, my puzzle-obsessed 2 year old can do it on his own, naming most every state as he places them in. It’s sparked great conversation for us, as he wants to know more about each state (who in our family lives there, what states it’s near, etc.), even when he’s not around the puzzle. When the pieces are removed, the base of the puzzle has the state outlines drawn in simple black lines, so it’s easy to match up by shape, even if you don’t start with an edge piece. I don’t even mind that a few NE states are grouped together – the pieces are small enough as it is, and separating DE from MD or VT from NH would make them impossibly tiny.
27 people found this helpful
Megan Sego –
5.0 out of 5 stars
3 year old loves this puzzle
sturdier than others we have tried. This puzzle has nice art and the pieces go easily together. The Northeast is a bit tough, sorry folks up there, your states are small 🙂
Just a personJust a person –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dumbed down shapes
I would never have bought this puzzle in the store! The shapes of the states have been altered and made more blobby! I don’t believe in dumbing things down for children, especially not a map puzzle! We live in New Jersey and on this puzzle the shape is unrecognizable! It’s just a weird rectangular blob! I understand why some of the states are on the same piece, but why aren’t they shaped the same as in real life? That being said my first grader is REALLY excited about it and now wants to learn the states soooooo we will be keeping it!
One person found this helpful
Donald Remillard. Sr –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great educational item
Granddaughter couldn’t stop playing with the map
One person found this helpful
Eldora Wright –
4.0 out of 5 stars
Learning where they are
Our granddaughter knows all the states in alphabetical order. So I thought it would be good for her to see where they are on a map. She is 5 years old and we have fun taking the pieces off and then finding where they go on the map. I only wish there was a map that could put the small states like RI & NY on the map also. I mean actually have a piece for them. Other wise the map is great and I am learning all over again.
Seventy7 –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Teaches the states and the capitals
This will become a heirloom because it is so useful and durable. I bought it for our granddaughter but I enjoy it too. Good value and visually pkeasing.
Jersey Girl –
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good but could be better
It’s a good size – can be done on a coffee table. My 3 year old grandson is very interested in it since we have family living all over the country and he’s heard of the various states. We live in New Jersey and it is one of the states that is completely unrecognizable and the name is printed out in the ocean instead of on the state. He’s learning the western states quickly but may never learn the smaller northeastern states because they are just green blobs, completely unrelated to their actual shapes. It seems like it would be a simple fix to correct this oversight. The other thing that would be very nice would be if there were indentations of some sort for the states to keep them in place once located. Frequently he identifies a state and puts it in the right place and then it slides while he’s looking for the next state. If they’d stay in place, then they would fit together better. That being said, my grandson is fascinated with the concept of the puzzle, the colors and the pictures on them and he has not become discouraged by the pieces sliding around – maybe because I’m usually sitting there, putting them back in their place.
7 people found this helpful
Denise –
3.0 out of 5 stars
We lost several puzzle pieces already
New England pieces are very small. They fell off and were lost very soon after purchase. Would be nice if there was something on the back to keep pieces more together.
JUJUGIRL –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Little minds are hungry-feed them with this learning puzzle!
Kids like puzzles,so why not get them started early and teach them at the same time! I gave this to my 3 year old nephew. My husband said it was wasted money, he was too young. Well, he has since changed his tune. The little boy was intrigued by all the different shapes and bright colors. There is also painted pictures on each state depicting something that relates to the state. Under each state is the name of the capitol city.My nephew loved this immediately. He studies the pictures, asks the name of the states, and has fun putting the united states back together. He now knows where he lives, where I live, and where various other family members live, When they went on vacay this January, he grabbed his puzzle to see where they were going. He actually grasped the fact that they were going to travel through 3 other states before they got to their Florida house. Hellooo? I know many adults who probably don’t know THAT! He is having fun, and has no idea that he is learning so much, When he starts school, he will be ahead of his class, at least in this department. I am very satisfied with the product and the impact this puzzle has made on my nephew. It has proven to be much more than I ever hoped it would be, and it was well worth the money. In today’s world, we need to seize every opportunity to share knowledge with the young minds in our family. And we need to catch them before the internet or social media hijacks their little minds! This is truly a learning tool that is fun, who could ask for more?
Kindle Reader –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Puzzle
This is a great puzzle. Over the years I’ve purchased a few of them as birthday gifts for various children. As it typical of most Melissa & Doug products that I’ve encountered, the puzzle is of superior quality…I love the fact that it’s constructed of wood. The puzzle pieces and board are extremely well made and are very durable. We’ve owned ours for over four years now and it is still in excellent condition! Each puzzle piece is about 3/16 of an inch thick. The names of the States are printed on the puzzle pieces, while the names of the capitals of each State is printed on the puzzle board. That way children not only learn the names of the states, and their location within the US, but also the capital of each State. The puzzle consists of 45 pieces–the smaller New England states, share a puzzle piece. For example, MA, RI, and CT all share one puzzle piece. The same is true of a few other north eastern states that are not within NE region. In any event, this is a wonderful puzzle. It’s educational and fun, providing children with endless hours of entertainment, while increasing their knowledge about their country. My daughter, who is eight, has one of these puzzles and she loves it. I bought it back in 2011 when she was only 4. My husband and I have completed the puzzle with her many times over the years, and now that she’s older she’s taken it upon herself to do it with her five year old brother. It’s really cute to watch them seriously concentrating while completing the puzzle. 🙂
7 people found this helpful
AHAMMONS –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice puzzle!
Puzzle is very colorful and sturdy
AP –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing gift
Got this as a gift for my 4 year and his friend and both of them loved it. Within a day my son learnt all the US states and their capitals. Great learning tool!
BreF –
5.0 out of 5 stars
amazing learning tool
Great quality and great price. I gifted one to my niece and nephew and got one for my kids. Hard to beat at $7 each on sale!! Love that it has each states bird/flower/population etc on the back.
Mary king –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love
Great puzzles for the hole family.
SSexton –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love it
My granddaughter loves this puzzle and keeps mastering it over and over.
Nik –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great puzzle!!
Great puzzle for a kid to learn the name of the states….
Cindy Flora –
5.0 out of 5 stars
Typical great product.
I love Melissa and Doug. My 5 year old grandson can work this on shapes, or color gradient. My 3 year old granddaughter can as well. The quality is great as I always expect from M & D. I recommend!!