Happy Halloween from the Five & Dime! - Holiday storefronts: the shop dresses up for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, each with its own background sounds. - All-new sounds: pencil, eraser, page turns, rubber stamp and the shop door bell. - iPad: choose PENCIL, FINGER or KEYBOARD, right on the puzzle page. - Handwriting help: if your letters aren't being read, the app offers to switch to finger or keyboard. - Easier scribble-to-erase. - Tap a word with a red X in the word list to clear the X. - Start Over now asks before wiping a puzzle. - Fixes for tried-word marks and gray GUESS letters.

Tougher puzzles and easier solving: - MEGA BOOK No. 1: The 50 States is now more of a challenge. Most of its puzzles no longer come with a starter word. - Puzzles now run from easiest to hardest. - Guessed words now show in gray, so you can tell them apart from your final answers. - The red x on a word you've already tried now shows up where words cross, and when you write with Apple Pencil. - The app now remembers whether you picked Cozy or Challenge, and briefly shows a Challenge label when you start a puzzle.

Tougher puzzles and new ways to play • Harder Medium and Jumbo puzzles in every volume. You'll need to think a few moves ahead, and Jumbos no longer come with a starter word. • GUESS: write letters in light gray when you're not sure yet. Double-tap a guessed word to make it final. • Tried words: a small red x reminds you which words you've already tried in a spot. • Challenge mode now crosses off the word you actually wrote, right or wrong, so it never gives the answer away. • Fixed a few words that Cozy mode didn't cross off. Note: Medium and Jumbo puzzles are brand new, so any in-progress ones start fresh. Starters, Themed and the MEGA BOOK keep your progress.