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I Spy Spectacular, with Giveaway

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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.

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.

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133 Comments

  3. All of my kids have enjoyed these books. They are great for cuddling on the couch and working on together.

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  15. 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!

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  25. 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.

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  27. 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!

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  29. I have several nieces and nephews who would enjoy this book when they come to “Auntie’s” for a visit!

    BornajhawkATaolDOTcom

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  33. We love I Spy here too! It does take a bit of time to find some of the things. They are really clever.

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  36. 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!

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  42. 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.

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  53. AWESOME Giveaway!! My two toddlers LOVE “I Spy” books! They are truly the books that they never get tired of looking at!!

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  54. 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!

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  61. 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.!)

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  64. 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!

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  65. We got our first I Spy book this last Christmas. It’s been way fun! I’d love to have another.
    Thanks!

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  66. At 20 months, my little one already plays ‘I spy.’ She looks for dogs in every book. She would love something like this!

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  67. I’d love to win. I loved these books a as a kid and I’m sure my daughter will too! Thanks 🙂

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  70. We’ve logged a zillion highway miles playing I Spy with our grandson!
    someluckydog at gmail dot com

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  75. 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!

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  89. My 5 year old grandson absolutely adores I Spy books & I would love to surprise him with this! Thanks for the chance!

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  93. 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!

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  94. 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.

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  96. 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

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  98. 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.

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  104. 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!

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  121. 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!

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  122. I SPY…one great prize!!! (Never even thought about taking along to the restaurant…THANKS FOR SHARING!)

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  125. 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.

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  128. 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!

    Reply