Codes and Ciphers

Secret Messages

A collection of puzzles using codes and ciphers
0 906212 78 2 Jeff Hawtin
This book is a light-hearted dash through the history of cryptography with plenty of amusing messages, jokes and riddles to encipher and decipher. With the end of the cold war and increasing European unity there is no need to treat cryptography as a subject only appropriate to stories of espionage and warfare. Many children from about 8 or 9 find learning about ciphers as interesting as learning chess or tackling good brain teasers. If they like excruciating jokes and 'groan' riddles, so much the better. There are ingenious gadgets to make which help with the solutions to some of the puzzles.
£2.95

Be a Codebreaker!

Mystery messages to puzzle over and decipher
0 906212 99 5 Jenkins & Wild
This book is best thought of as a set of enjoyable puzzles for children of 10/11 and upwards. Breaking codes using letter frequency is an interesting activity which can quickly become very absorbing. There are clear principles to be followed but also plenty of opportunities for inspired guesses and sudden good ideas. The setting is of ancient maps, mysterious deaths, lost cities and shipwrecks and in each case a successful deciphering leads to where the treasure is buried. If any of the codes proves too difficult to decipher, then help is given. But in not too helpful a way!
£2.95