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5 Minutes for Books: I Spy A to Z

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Our first of three Father’s Day Giveways is up today at 5 Minutes for Books. Check it out!

We have been fans of the I Spy books since I first bought some of the board books for my daughter. Amanda is now almost eleven-years-old, but Kyle (now 5) also enjoyed the books, as well as some of the easy readers in the series.

When I volunteered in the elementary school library, I noticed that they could not keep the I Spy Picture Riddle books on the shelves. That’s because the signature bright and busy photos along with simple text are second to none. Kids love finding the items on each page — over and over again.

The I Spy books are perfect for this type of quiet play. And with I Spy A to Z the fun has a purpose — helping younger kids hone their spotting skills while reinforcing their letter sounds.

Easy-to-read riddles by Jean Marzollo are paired with forty-six object-filled photographs by Walter Wick to create I Spy A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles, the most engaging alphabet book ever! With more than thirty titles and 36 million books in print, the I Spy series continues to win the hearts and minds of parents and kids everywhere. Find out more at www.scholastic.com/ispy.

These puzzles are just difficult enough to keep your three to seven-year-old child busy, yet not get them frustrated. Each page has a letter devoted to it, and the letter in question is highlighted by red ink. One feature that I haven’t seen in other alphabet books is that the letter is used not only in beginning sounds, but also ending sounds. I love this addition! For example:

I spy a king, a surfer’s hair, three pink fish, and a koala bear.

My five-year-old son is learning to read. He loves to have me (or his big sis) read to him, but there are times when I want him to be able to entertain himself: when we’re in the car, or I’m doing chores or trying to read my own book. A picture of each item that they need to find accompanies the rhyme so that pre-readers can play with the book without assistance. Not only that, they’ll begin to associate the word with the pictures.

This is already in my stash of supplies that I’ve been accumulating in preparation for the very long driving trip we are taking this summer. I Spy A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles is perfect for a car or plane trip, or for a quiet activity to keep in the car for all those boring errands.

You can win one of four copies (U.S. addresses only). Leave a comment and we’ll announce the winners on July 13.

What’s more — Please click over to 5 Minutes for Giveaways to enter a grand prize package worth $85 which includes two I Spy books (this one and another) as well as the I Spy Wii game and I Spy memory game.

The winners of Dance Me, Daddy are #9 Heather H. , #4 Carrie F., and #21 Ginger Sims.

You should have received an email from me. If not please contact us with your shipping info.

Jennifer Donovan contributes to 5 Minutes for Mom and is 5 Minutes for Books Managing Editor.

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209 Comments

  11. My daughter tries to play I Spy, but doesn’t quite understand the game. I try to help her but she always gives too many clues when she’s describing her object. This would definitely help me to help her. Thank you for bringing it to my attention!

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  18. Would love to win this, remember these from a few years ago, I’d go to a now closed bookstore and would stay in the store for hours specifically looking at these.

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  19. I SPY books sound great. I would love to win one for my boys. Thank you for the great contest!

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  41. My kids LOVE I spy books. They always look for them at the library- thanks for the giveaway!

    artandjen at juno dot com

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  60. I love I Spy books. They are helpful to my daughter too, who has a vision impairment in one eye.

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  71. “I Spy” is always so much fun to play. My son and I always played it looking for windmills as we headed down the road.

    visionquest2020(at)msn(dot)com

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  72. Super giveaway! My daughters have been huge fans of I Spy since pre-K when their teachers introduced them to it! Thanks!

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  77. Did you say 3 to 7 year old? I guess I won’t tell you my age, but when my grandkids come over, they love to go through the I Spy puzzles – and guess what? So do I! I think your age range has to be adjusted.

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  78. I remember playing I spy when I was younger. It was a great way to stay entertained on long road trips! I really think my kiddos would love this!

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  83. My son loves I Spy books. He saw the photo here and asked me right away if we could get this book! Thanks for the chance to enter.

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  95. I love I Spy! This would be great for my granddaughter both at home and during car trips.
    Thanks for the chance to win!

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  96. My grandson has loved I Spy books since he was 2. Now he is 6 and likes to play I Spy With My Littlw Eye in the car!

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  99. I just went to an exhibit by the maker of the I spy books- it was amazing! I would love to win this for my son!

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  107. Growing up we loved finding these at the library! I would love to have some for our children now! FUN!

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  112. I would love his “I Spy” books for my toddlers… teach them early right??

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  113. My 2 year old son is just starting to love to play “I Spy.” I bet he would be entertained for hours with these books! Please enter me in your giveaway!

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  117. I use to read these books all the time growing up. I recently found a bunch of them when I was helping my parents move. Our kids love them too!

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  118. Please enter me in your giveaway. This would help keep the kids busy when we drive to Grandpa’s house later this summer. Thank you.

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  125. We love I Spy in this house. We have one of the I Spy Hard Covered books and the binder has fallen apart because we used it so much. We would love to have the New I Spy A to Z edition. Thank You for Sharing this review and giveaway~! 🙂

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  126. My son loves I spy! I’ve searched for every I spy book out there that has the pictures for my pre-reader! I know he would love this!!

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  131. This is perfect for my 3-year old daughter! She’s just now getting into this kind of thing! I would love to win one of these books for her!

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  133. THanks for the review and giveaway. This book sounds perfect for my 5 year old. She loves the I Spy series.

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  134. please pick Me these are amazing….Great to have in the home for when Kids are in the car and need something to do for short periods thank you KayMI

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  143. These are the first book my kids ask to look at when we go to the library. I love that there is so much to look at on each page.

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  147. My son loves the I Spy books- he’s been reading the board book versions and is ready to “graduate” to the full-size books.

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  167. I Spy books are great! I used to always have one in a bag for my oldest son for all those “waiting” moments.

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  176. My daughter has loved the toddler Look and Finds, but is ready to “graduate” from them. This looks like a great book.

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  177. My children Love I Spy. The problem is…we don’t usually have the money to purchase these wonderful books so we have to hope that they get them as gifts and such. Anyway…with a 5 year old, 4 year old, and 2 year old….this would be perfect! 🙂

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  200. My son loves I Spy books and to be honest I love them too. We both have fun looking for items and seeing who can find them first. lol.

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  202. i haven’t been introduced to these but looks like it is time…i mean, my sisters kids have kids and they have to have tons of books! they have to become a booky as we!

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  206. Oh these are great car ride books, my little brother was a big fan, and I have a neice and nephew who I know would love them!

    Reply