Charley Harper's Animals Memory Game brings together two things that rarely occupy the same space: genuinely good art and a game children will actually want to play again and again.
The 72 cards in this set each carry one of Harper's distinctive animal illustrations, drawn from his celebrated body of work in mid-century American wildlife art. Players match 36 pairs, working their way through a menagerie that ranges from familiar companions like beagles to more exotic subjects such as toucans and bobcats.
Harper's visual language is immediately recognisable. He reduced the natural world to its essential geometry, working in flat planes of vivid colour that are bold without being garish and simplified without losing life. For children encountering his work for the first time, the cards are visually arresting.
The game comes with a companion booklet that gives context to the animals featured, so play becomes an opportunity to learn as well as compete. This is not a game that gets abandoned after a week.
The cards are printed to a high standard on sturdy stock, and the compact box, at roughly 7.5 x 10.8 x 7.5 cm, travels easily. It fits comfortably in a bag, makes a practical addition to a holiday kit, and stores without taking up meaningful shelf space. Several reviewers have noted it has become a fixture on family trips.
Charley Harper (1922 to 2007) spent his career in Cincinnati, where his public works remain a significant part of the city's cultural landscape. A committed conservationist, he produced posters for more than fifty nature and conservation organisations, including the US National Park Service, for whom he painted large-scale works depicting entire ecosystems in his signature style of minimal realism. His art was as much advocacy as it was illustration.
This memory game is suitable for ages four and up, though it works well across a wide age range. It also makes a considered gift for adults who appreciate design and are not above enjoying a good memory game.
What's in the box
72 square cards (36 matching pairs) printed with Charley Harper animal illustrations, plus a booklet featuring information about each of the animals in the set.
Specifications
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Soft armchair
$420.00
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