Review: Art Ditto by Birdcage Press

Earlier this spring we were sent a game, Art Ditto, to play and review.  Art Ditto is a form of Memory featuring famous art pieces as the tiles.  The game was designed and is sold by Birdcage Press.  If you've ever been to our house, you know that we're suckers for a good game!  I have shelves and shelves (literally) of games.  I was excited to receive this newest treasure in the mail - it is nice and solid, the pictures are gorgeous, and the educational value is an extra bonus.

Art Ditto is playable by ages 4 to 100 and in between.  Although, if you ask Lincoln, it is also for ages around 2.  We found his help with the game to be of limited value, however, so use your own best judgement when involving short fry!

Art Ditto is a Memory style game with a twist - there are collector cards, which feature 3 themed pictures from the tiles on each card, and you hand out those cards to the players.  When a pair is made that uses those pictures the holder of the collection card gets one of the tiles and the person who made the pair gets the other.

The art collector cards include horses, flowers, cats, and more.  Along the top of the card they include the word in different languages, and on one side they list the artist and the time frame along with a close up of one part of the art piece.  On the other side the entire piece, and the title (in 4 languages) is listed.  I'm all for education through osmosis, and if the kids pick up some art culture and language while playing memory?  Sounds like a good deal to me.

My take?  Kids love Memory.  I haven't met one who doesn't yet!  If you're going to be playing some form of Memory at your house this version is vastly superior to one featuring Disney or 10 different poorly drawn pictures of an Old Maid.  The kids enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it.  I would suggest that if you're only playing with 2 players you take out some of the cards - there are quite a few!  I liked the collection of paintings included.  Many were familiar to me but there were some new ones too.  I also like that the game provides another source of exposure to great artists for the kids.

You can purchase Art Ditto for $24.95, from Birdcage Press.  I think it would make a fun birthday present idea too.  While you're at their website be sure to browse a bit, they have lots of bright, fun, and educational products for kids!


Want to learn more about Birdcage Press?  Other reviewers from This Old Schoolhouse received Art Ditto and other games sold by Birdcage Press as well.  You can check out their reviews here.