You can also use those pieces to make simple or complex patterns. You can count all the circles or just the red pieces. You can make piles and talk about which is bigger or smaller. You can talk about adding or taking away. When pieces come in various sizes, you can arrange them from smallest to largest.
Picture puzzles offer many opportunities for a variety of play experiences.
You can talk about the story -making up different episodes each time. You can talk about colors and shapes or clues that will link one piece to another. As the puzzles become more difficult, you can talk about inside and outside or border pieces. You can call attention to specific details. These are all pre-reading skills.