Word up

During your next family road trip or play date, little wordsmiths looking to pass the time have a fun new game.

From the makers of Bananagrams comes ZIP-IT, a two-player crossword race that can be played anytime, anywhere, in as little as 20 seconds.

To play ZIP-IT, each person takes 12 cubes and races to form his own crossword grid using any side of the cubes. The first player to use all his cubes calls, “ZIP!,” and scores a point by moving his or her own zipper up the pouch. The first person to score 10 points shouts, “ZIP-IT!,” and wins the game.

Geared towards players ages 7 and up, ZIP-IT features 24 high-quality letter cubes packaged in a unique cloth pouch with scoring zippers, so everything you need to play is — literally — in the bag.

ZIP-IT, $14.95. For info, visit www.bananagrams.com.