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Game Specifications:
Ages: 7+
Number of Players: 2-8
Length of Play: 5 minutes
Game Contents:
144 Letter Tiles
Fun Banana-Zippered Case!
Game Rules and Variations
Game Awards:
Toy Industry Association, 2009 Toy of the Year Award "Best Game of the Year"
Dr. Toy, Best Toy Award Gold Seal
Dr. Toy, Best Products Award
Creative Child Magazine, Top Toy of the Year Award 2007
Parents' Choice Foundation, Parents' Choice Recommended Award
iParenting Media Award
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Gold Seal Award
National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries, Good Toy Award 2006
NAPPA (National Parenting Publictions Awards), Honors
Early Childhood News Awards, Directors' Choice Recognition
Right Start, Best Toy Award 2006
Product Specifications:
Game Size: 9.5" x 3" x 2"
Game Weight: 1.0 lbs
Product Warnings & Safety Information:
WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD - SMALL PARTS. This game contains small pieces and is not suitable for children under 3 years of age.
A NOTE FROM LAURI:
A game that promotes continuous learning and play. Since the games are structured so that additional tiles create opportunities to re-work your crosswords, BANANAGRAMS promotes continuous learning, and exploring how to make new words.
Great tactile way to explore words. Pen-and-pencil word games, and letter card games are great and have their place in learning about words. However, BANANAGRAMS gives a unique experience for kids to use their fingers to form words over and over again as they add tiles and play a variety of fun games.
Great game for multiple ages of players. This game is very inclusive of different ages. Grandparents can play with kids. Older kids can play with younger kids. BANANAGRAMS is great for families and groups of multi-aged, multi-ability kids.
Clever and silly packaging that is also functional. Even the packaging makes the product fun. How fun to say to kids, "Let's play with the banana!" or "How about the banana?" when they are looking for something to do. The zippered case is so easy to throw into a car or a backpack, and a great place for the tiles so they won't escape.
An absolutely terrific game in every way. There's a reason this game was awarded "Game of the Year 2009" as part of the Toy of the Year awards by the Toy Industry Assocation. It is fun, it is silly, it is a great learning game, it has great packaging, it's easy to learn. BANANAGRAMS is a game that anyone can play and enjoy!
GENERAL RULES for BANANAGRAMS:
1. All letters (the "BUNCH") are placed face down on the table. Everyone takes 11-21 tiles (depending on the number of players).
2. Someone says "SPLIT". Players turn over their tiles and proceed, simultaneously, to create their own individual crossword (which they may constantly rearrange).
3. When a player has no letters left, that player shouts "PEEL" and takes one from the "BUNCH". All others must ALSO take a tile at this time.
4. At any time, and as often as desired, a player with a letter that is difficult to use may say "DUMP" and return it, face down, to the "BUNCH" but must take THREE letters in exchange.
5. Once all the letters in the "BUNCH" are gone, the first player with no letters left shouts "BANANAS" and is the winner of the "hand".
STRATEGY TIPS:
1. As you flip over each tile, begin to arrange your letters.
2. Avoid "DUMP"ing as much as possible. By the time you have given up on a letter, another player may be shouting "PEEL" and you may pick up exactly the letter you need! If you are stuck with "Q", just remember there is one legitimate word that does not require a "U". That word is "QAT", which is a tropical evergreen plant, also known as "khat".
3. Don't worry if another player is constantly yelling "PEEL". They may be developing lots of short words and sooner or later they will need to make longer words or they may draw a tougher letter to use.
4. Remember that tougher letters ("K", "C", "J", "Z") can be used in words where the letter is not the first in the word. "Z" and "C" can often be put with "E" at the end of a word. "C" can be put together with "K" for "CK" and "K" can be put together with "N" for "KN" or "NK" combinations. Lots of 3 letter words start with "J" (jam, jar, jip, jig, jag, and so on).
VARIATIONS OF PLAY:
1. BANANA SOLITAIRE: Start with 21 letters and PEEL when needed. Use all 144 tiles. Time yourself to see if you can improve! This is a great way to practice playing with others.
2. BANANA CAFE: This variation can be played in a restaurant as you are waiting to be served. Everyone starts with 21 letters, and there are no "PEELs" allowed, but you can "DUMP" (just put the tiles back in the banana bag).
3. BANANA SMOOTHIE: All tiles are divided evenly between the players. No "PEELs" or "DUMPs" allowed. First player to use all their tiles yells "BANANAS!".
4. HANDICAP A BETTER PLAYER: Make a rule that no two-letter words are allowed by better players to even out the game.
5. MAKE UP YOUR OWN VARIATION! It's a very flexible game - have fun with it!
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