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I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles

1992Jean Marzollo

4.3/5

This whole series of books was so popular when I was in elementary school (1998-2004) the school library did not permit students to put them on hold. My review applies to the entire series.Walter Wick's sets for these books are an art form in themselves. People of any age can appreciate their beauty and the thought put into setting them up. Jean Marzollo's rhymes, found at the bottom of each page listing the various objects the reader should look for, are complex enough that they do not sound juvenile, yet are simple enough that children as young as second grade can read and complete the puzzles on their own. Children who are even younger are likely to understand what they are being asked to find if the riddles are read aloud to them. Finally, not only are the photographs beautiful, but they are so intricate that a nearly infinite number of riddles can be written about each picture - this would be an excellent activity to have older children do when teaching them about concepts such as alliteration and assonance.This book specifically is an excellent overview of what the series has to offer, with photos which while interesting and beautiful do not pertain to any specific theme: blocks, silhouettes and the like. Later books, beginning with I Spy Christmas, have themes including the circus, fantasy and school (very appealing to kids). There are even two books, I Spy Mystery and I Spy Spooky Night, which have mysteries or a sort-of storyline to follow. I Spy Treasure Hunt is especially cool because Wick set up a miniature seaside village, and the sort-of storyline sets kids out to find a pirate's treasure. In case you can't tell I adore these books and have all but one of the originals and all but two of the Challengers, the series with more complex riddles. This series gets a 10/5 from me.
Picture of a book: I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles

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