I told my kids we were expecting a puzzle in the mail, but they weren't expecting this.

I pulled this incredibly colorful object from the box and placed it on the table. Ooohs and aaahs emitted from my boys, ages 3 and 6, as they both craned their necks for a closer look. Not that they couldn't see it; the puzzle is large, measuring 7" X 10.5" and comes wrapped in a clear plastic pouch. The dinosaur from PuzzArt was a hit.

As the evening wore on, my youngest son sat quietly, concentrating on fitting the unique shapes together. Unfortunately, the spikes that make up the dinosaur's back are awfully alike and he became frustrated after trying to fit them into the numerous slots lining the creature's spine.

Of course, this is just what I wanted to see. The fine motor skills required to put these pieces together are just now emerging in my son. This puzzle is difficult enough to challenge him, yet easy enough to reward him. He walked away from the puzzle in search of something more familiar (and easy, I suppose) -- but returned the next morning to have another go at it.

My oldest son enjoyed the puzzle because of its unique ability to stand upright. He explored different ways of putting the pieces together; he placed the support sections first, then stood the creature and aligned the remaining pieces. Then he tried completing the puzzle on the table, only to carefully pull it to a standing position without making the pieces fall out.

This puzzle has been sitting on one of our end tables in our living room on display -- and just begging to be manipulated. Every once in a while I see it laying in pieces, but within a few hours, it's back together and carefully angled as if one of the kids is showing off their handiwork.

And speaking of handiwork, the makers of this creative puzzle really have something here. Made in Hungary, PuzzArt puzzles are designed to be both durable and adorable. Made from all natural ash wood, the pieces are cut in wild shapes and painted in non-toxic, water based paints. The designs are truly remarkable and unlike your generic store-bought puzzles touting the latest cartoon character.

Some puzzles are very simple to assemble, while others, like the Santa Maria ship, are more complex. Whether you are looking for a challenging toy for your preschooler, or a delightful display on the shelf of your animal loving fifth grader, you'll find what you're looking for at PuzzArt.

PuzzArt is the only exclusive importer of these puzzles. You can visit their Web site to browse through the complete line of puzzles. Some puzzles contain small pieces and are not recommended for children younger than 3.