This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.
I Spy is celebrating 20 years of incredible “picture riddles.” Can you believe it? These books have challenged children to look closely and search out hidden items for all these years, and I know that I’ve loved them as a teacher and as a parent.
In honor of their 20 years, Scholastic is releasing I Spy Spectacular, which features all new riddles by Jean Marzollo to accompany some classic photographs by Walter Wick that may look familiar to fans of the books. The pages with rings, wheels, balls, marbles are incredibly challenging as well as just plain fun to look at. Whew,there’s a ton of stuff going on there! My daughter happens to love the ballet page the best, but I’m most fond of the spread that depicts images from nursery rhymes. I’m telling you, just like always, you’ve got to be ready to scan the images with a discerning eye, because sometimes things are not exactly easy to find.
My own children are HUGE fans of the I Spy series, and I love that my ten year old can get as much enjoyment out of them as my three year old! We’ve taken I Spy Spectacular with us to a restaurant to ease the waiting time, and voila- no impatient children! My favorite experience, however, has been watching my kids and their grandfather sit on the couch together to seek out the items as a group.
We have three copies of I Spy Spectacular along with autographed bookplates to give away! Leave one comment here to be entered, U.S. residents only, please.
We’ll announce the winner in this column on April 18.
- The winner of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid prize package is #67 Mia.
Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.
Dawn’s living room often resembles an I Spy page spread, with a remarkable amount of things strewn about… oh, life imitating art. Her blog imitates life at my thoughts exactly.
Jane Hoh says
My entire family loves puzzles and riddles. Thank you for the opportunity to win this book.
Wehaf says
I love this series of books. 🙂
Jill L says
All of my kids have enjoyed these books. They are great for cuddling on the couch and working on together.
Lindsay says
I used to love these books as a kid!
James Coyne says
I Love a good book
Susan Smith says
My daughter loves these books
AEKZ2 says
I love these books just as much as my children do.
Linda Henderson says
My grandkids love these books. Thank you for the great giveaway.
seriousreader at live dot com
Dorothy says
Thanks for the great contest!
Diane Baum says
These are wonderful books my students would enjoy them
Heather says
I remember loving these books as a child… Would love to look at one again.
Connie says
I Spy Books are our favorite
kathy pease says
Thank you for the great giveaway please count me in 🙂
kathypease(at)gmail(dot)com
Renee G says
We love the I Spy books.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Douglas R. Cobb says
The I Spy books are great fun for kids of all ages–even my teens still like them! If I win, the book would go to my daughter. She’s outgrown a lot of things, but I hope she never outgrows having fun!
Ed Nemmers says
The little ones ( and I ) love the “I Spy” books!
Erin Cook says
My six year old loves these books, would love to win her own copy
[email protected]
Cameron says
Always liked I Spy
Brandi says
At last! Sonmoee who understands! Thanks for posting!
Daniel M says
bet my nephew would love it
Courtney White says
Great book series! My kids love them.
phxbne says
my daughter would love this
Pat says
My granddaughter would really love this book!
Christine says
This is something I would love to share with the kiddos!
Chynna says
Now we know who the seisbnle one is here. Great post!
Nathan says
I love these books. The pictures are wonderful and very colorful. It would be awesome to win this!
Stacey says
My son will sit for hours looking at these books. Sometimes I am even stumped! This is a great gift that everybody in the family would love.
Ali says
My mother has several of these books and my children love them. It would enjoyed by all ages. Great gift!
Debby says
These are wonderful books. It can keep you occupied for hours and the children also love to find the items. All ages will enjoy this book!
Kimberly B. says
We love these books.
Laura H. says
I have several nieces and nephews who would enjoy this book when they come to “Auntie’s” for a visit!
BornajhawkATaolDOTcom
Geri Van Ruler says
My second grade students would really enjoy this book.
Tina S. says
Would love to win this for my son!
Megan Earley says
I Spy books are fun for all ages! This would be a great prize!
mearley1979 at gmail dot com
Jendi says
We love I Spy here too! It does take a bit of time to find some of the things. They are really clever.
Idaho Jill says
oh, we love i spy books! great prize,t hanks!
Florence says
Hate to admit it but I’ve never read the book. Let me win so I can start? 😉
gwendolyn b. says
My niece absolutely loves these games. I’d be thrilled to be able to give her a copy if I win. Thanks for the chance!
Sara says
My daughters LOVE I Spy! Great giveaway!
Sam says
Great books! Thanks for the giveaway.
Katrina says
I would love to win a copy for my daughter!
Joanna says
My little ones love these books! Please enter me.
Yvonne J says
What a great giveaway for National Poetry Month!
Shelagh says
My three kids love the I Spy and all the games where you have to find the hidden pictures. The three of them all cooperate nicely when working on these.
Tabathia B says
My daughter loves I spy books
Nadi says
My little girl would love this. Thanks for the chance!
valerie mabrey says
these are rgeat books for my little friends that sit with me at church
Jodi says
My kids LOVE I Spy books!!
Lisa M says
We love I Spy books!! Great giveaway
Samantha R says
We have 2 small i spy books which my son loves! We would love to add to our library
ACMommy3 says
My children love books like these from the library and would be thrilled to own one. 🙂
Terra Heck says
My kids always have fun with I Spy. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Urailak says
My kids love I Spy books. Please enter me in your giveaway. Thanks!
Hillary--Mrs. Einstein says
My kids love these books!
Chris C says
AWESOME Giveaway!! My two toddlers LOVE “I Spy” books! They are truly the books that they never get tired of looking at!!
Joliene D says
I love these books as much as my kids do! It keeps them quiet, but it’s also something fun & engaging for us to do together. Love them!
Kristi H. says
My son loves these books. Thanks for the giveaway!
Christine Jensen says
My children LOVE the I Spy books!!!
Drew Stevenson says
My kids would love this!
Betty Bill says
This is a great giveaway!
Kathy Stevenson says
My daughter loves I Spy!
Tarah says
I love these books – they’re great for the whole family to enjoy!
Tracey says
I have “spied” these books before but we don’t own any….yet. I would love to win one for my 3 year old (as well as myself.!)
evelyn says
we justd love I spy
Steph says
My kids love the I Spy series of games and books. Nice to see a new one out.
Krista A. says
Awesome! All 3 of my kids, ages 9,6,and 3, enjoy I Spy, and something that accomplishes that is a hard thing to find!
Jaimie K says
We got our first I Spy book this last Christmas. It’s been way fun! I’d love to have another.
Thanks!
Suzanne R. says
At 20 months, my little one already plays ‘I spy.’ She looks for dogs in every book. She would love something like this!
Vilmarys says
I’d love to win. I loved these books a as a kid and I’m sure my daughter will too! Thanks 🙂
katklaw777 says
Forget the kids…I luv these books!
Wonderful giveaway…fingers crossed!
Thanks.
LaVonne says
I remember I Spy. I loved it. 🙂
Some Lucky Dog says
We’ve logged a zillion highway miles playing I Spy with our grandson!
someluckydog at gmail dot com
Isabelle says
Would like to win for my brother.
John D. says
Great giveaway.
Natalia says
My son loves this books!
Linda Kish says
Sounds great. Count me in please.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
maggie says
My twin boys have dubbed their room the “I Spy” room because they can see & find everything they need, even if Mommy can’t – LOL Love these books!
melissa says
i would love to win this book! thanks for the great giveaway!
Johannah B says
Love to have this book of riddles – sounds very interesting.
1prizewinner at gmail dot com
nan says
my nephew loves these books
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
Christa Gregg says
These are great quiet time books! Thank you for the giveaway.
Sarah M. says
count me in!
Ellen C. says
I’d love to win. Thanks for the chance.
debbie (debi) jackson says
love to win this
Simone says
We love I Spy Books – they are endless hours of entertainment.
Christina says
My kids love their well-worn I Spy books – their cousins handed them down a few years ago!
mrsshukra says
This is a classic, please count me in!
Carol M says
My youngest grandsons would love this book! Thank you for the giveaway!
Christine says
Would love to win!!
Krissa says
I’ve been wanting some of these…I think my daughter would love them!
Ruthie B says
My 5 year old grandson absolutely adores I Spy books & I would love to surprise him with this! Thanks for the chance!
Beth C says
Love to have this. Please enter me. Thanks!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Terri Dell says
This looks great for my nieces and nephew.
Holly says
My daughter loves these books.
Bin says
I love the I Spy books and I would love to have this as well. Thanks for the great review and the chance to win the book!
Nise' says
My kids grew up with these books and a couple of them had to be replaced. I look forward to sharing them with my grandchildren.
Soha Molina says
My daughter would love this. She is a huge fan,
Cindi says
Our two sons adore these books! Actually, while I am waiting for my doctor to come
in the room, they have pictures on the wall with things to find…This is such a fun and
delightful book giveaway…
Many thanks!
Cindi
Amy says
Great giveaway! My daughter LOVES I Spy books!
Lucinda says
My 4 yo with SPD gets completely entranced in these books. He loves to “read” these to me…and I love it when he does.
LT says
My 2 children would really love this! Thanks for the chance!
Kristi Duncan says
I would love to win this for my kids (and me) I Spy is such a great series!
jenna says
We love I Spy at our house – the books and the games!
Stacie says
We LOVE ispy! What a great give a way!
Tara says
I love these books and so does my daughter!
Amy in Gbelt says
Wow 20 years? Now i feel as lost as Waldo! Thanks for posting this Dawn. My son, at 13, is at the cusp of being too old for any reading time w/mom. Believe it or not, he loves these books, and this might let me steal a few more bedtimes with this little boy/teen. Tx!
DB says
We love I Spy books!
mindie hilton says
My eight year old loves these books, this would be a nice addition to his Easter basket.
riTa says
Spectacular giveaway!
Wonderful for my one smart/curious/observant grandson!
Jamie Y. says
We Love I Spy books! We only own one, so the kiddos would be thrilled to get another.
ginny says
We love these books when I can get them.
Alison S. says
My son loves finding objects in any book we read. He would love this book.
S Club Mama says
I love I Spy Books!! So does my older son – I think my younger would be very good at them.
Tiffany says
We love I spy Books!!!!!
HappyMomC says
We would love to win this!
Danyelle says
I love those books!
Marci says
We LOVE I Spy books. Thanks for the chance. 🙂
Kristie says
How fun! Thank you for the chance to win! 🙂
Jen says
My kids love I Spy books. I’d love to win this.
Courtney says
Love these books, and that your living room often resembles a page – mine too! Hilarious.
Dawn says
Nice to know I’m not alone, Courtney! 🙂
Jess says
My two kiddos would love, love, love this!
TaMara says
My kids love these books.
m. richards says
WE have the old style seek n’ find board books we found at Kohl’s. I’ve actually been back and forth on buying the series through his school book club. We would like to try it out wither way!
Mia says
I SPY…one great prize!!! (Never even thought about taking along to the restaurant…THANKS FOR SHARING!)
Dawn says
Thanks, Mia- with three kids, we’re often toting a bag in with small, and quiet, goodies to pass the waiting time. 🙂
Mia says
I have a waist-pack of ‘tricks’…crayons, activities and such…LOL
Leilani says
We love I Spy books! Thanks for the giveaway.
Anne says
We love the I spy books – even have one for the TAG reader! Would love to add to our collection.
Amy Brewer says
My children and I would love to do these. I haven’t tried the i spy books yet but will have to look into them.
Brooke says
Thank you!!
Heidi Daily says
Love these books!
Jawan says
My heart is thrilled when I watch my middle son stare at the pages in the ONE I Spy book that he owns. He’s found almost everything that is possibly hidden or things that I have called out for him to locate. I know that he would love a new challenge in this series of books. Thanks!