I Spy (Scholastic)

I Spy
Author(s)	Jean Marzollo
Country	United States
Language	English
Genre(s)	Children's books
Publisher	Scholastic Books (Cartwheel Books)
Publication date	1992-2003

I Spy is a children's book series with texts written by (Jean Marzollo) based on photographs by Walter Wick published by Scholastic Press. The books are named after the I spy guessing game.

The typical I Spy book contains photographs of an array of items, either in massive clutter, or set up to portray a scene, such as a haunted house. Below each picture is a rhyming riddle that asks the reader to search for specific items or words spelled out within the photo.

The photographs in the books are works of art in themselves, and are often noted for their highly expressive quality. Many of the shots, besides being visually interesting, are intriguing and imaginative, with eerie or sentimental themes. School teachers often use the photos to inspire pupils to write short fiction set in the created scenes.

Walter Wick is also author of his own series, similar to I Spy, called Can You See What I See?. These books feature photographs and poems that require readers to find objects in the picture. The puzzles are slightly easier than those of the I Spy books.

Several video games based on the I Spy books are available for Windows PCs, Nintendo DS, Nintendo Wii, Apple Applications, Leapster, and the Game Boy Advance, including I Spy Spooky Mansion, I Spy Treasure Hunt, and I Spy Fantasy.

A long time fan of the series decided to create his own plotted adaptation of I Spy Fantasy on February 4th, 2011.

Book list

For All Ages

Classics

• I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles
• I Spy Christmas
• I Spy Fun House
• I Spy Mystery
• I Spy Fantasy
• I Spy School Days
• I Spy Spooky Night
• I Spy Treasure Hunt
• I Spy Spectacular

Challengers

• I Spy Super Challenger!
• I Spy Gold Challenger!
• I Spy Extreme Challenger!
• I Spy Year-Round Challenger!
• I Spy Ultimate Challenger!

For Beginning Readers

Paperback Readers

• I Spy Funny Teeth
• I Spy A Dinosaur's Eye
• I Spy A School Bus
• I Spy Lightning In The Sky
• I Spy A Candy Cane
• I Spy A Scary Monster
• I Spy A Pumpkin
• I Spy A Penguin
• I Spy Santa Claus
• I Spy A Butterfly
• I Spy Merry Christmas
• I Spy A Balloon
• I Spy I Love You
• I Spy A Skeleton
• I Spy An Egg In A Nest
• I Spy An Apple
• I Spy Thanksgiving

Phonics and More

• I Spy Phonics Fun Boxset
• I Spy A To Z
• I Spy A Christmas Tree

For Babies & Preschoolers

Board Books

• I Spy Little Book
• I Spy Little Animals
• I Spy Little Wheels
• I Spy Little Numbers
• I Spy Little Christmas
• I Spy Little Letters
• I Spy Little Bunnies
• I Spy Little Hearts
• I Spy Little Learning Box

Games

CD-ROM

Old CD-ROM s

• I Spy
• I Spy Junior
• I Spy Junior Puppet Playhouse
• I Spy Spooky Mansion

New CD-ROM s

• I Spy Treasure Hunt
• I Spy Fantasy
• I Spy Spooky Mansion Deluxe
• I Spy Mystery
• I Spy Fun House

Nintendo DS

• I Spy Fun House
• I Spy Universe
• I Spy Castle

Wii

• Ultimate I Spy
• I Spy Spooky Mansion

iPhone Apps

• I Spy Riddle Race
• I Spy Spooky Mansion

Leapster

• I Spy Challenger
• I Spy Treasure Hunt

Game Boy Advance

• I Spy Challenger

iDVD

• I Spy Treasure Hunt
• I Spy Spooky Mansion
• I Spy Fantasy

Tag

• I Spy Imagine That!

Awards

The I Spy series has won numerous awards [1]:

Books

• I SPY A BOOK OF PICTURE RIDDLES (HC)

California Children's Media Award, Honorable Mention NYPL 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing "Definitely fun, and educational, too; this is a true eye-opener."—Los Angeles Times

• I SPY CHRISTMAS A BOOK OF PICTURE RIDDLES (HC)

Parents' Magazine Best Book "Features gorgeously styled, full-spread color photos of many objects."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

• I SPY FUN HOUSE A BOOK OF PICTURE RIDDLES (HC)

Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year "Sumptuously styled.... A lot of mirror mazes and magic tricks."—Publishers Weekly

• I SPY MYSTERY A BOOK OF PICTURE RIDDLES (HC)

Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year, National Parenting Publication Award Honorable Mention

• I SPY SPOOKY NIGHT

American Bookseller Pick of the Lists "A must, in multiple copies, for any Halloween collection."—School Library Journal, starred review, "Spectacularly eerie pictures chock full of hidden objects."—Booklist

• I SPY TREASURE HUNT- 2001

2001 Parent’s Choice Award "Intricate and ingenious."—Booklist "Marzollo's structured rhymes provide the clues while Wick's stunningly detailed miniature village provides the hidden answers for readers to seek out."—School Library Journal

• I SPY PHONICS FUN BOXSET

2008 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner

Interactive

• I Spy Treasure Hunt CD-ROM

2001 Parents’ Choice Software Recommended Award Best Selling PC Games PlayDate 2001 2001 Parent’s Guide to Children’s Media Award The National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval Choosing Children’s Software Best Picks Award The #1 Best-Selling Educational Title October 2001, NPD Intelect Kids First! Endorsement 2001/2002 BESSIE (Best Educational Software) Award 2002 Distinguished Achievement Award Finalist, Association of Educational Publishers 2002 Parenting Magazine’s Software of the Year Award

• I SPY Fantasy CD-ROM

Top Choice Software Award, Museum of Science Boston All Star Software, Children’s Software & New Media Revue - 4.9 Rating The National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Child Magazine Best Software & Video Games of 2003 Parent & Child Teacher’s Pick Best Tech 2003 Best Educational Software, Review Corner 2004 BESSIE (Best Educational Software) Award 2004 Parents’ Choice Gold Award 2004 Distinguished Achievement Award "Best Graphics", Association of Educational Publishers

• I SPY Spooky Mansion Deluxe CD-ROM

National Parenting Publications Awards NAPPA Gold Award Winner 2004 All Star Software, Children’s Software & New Media Revue - 5.0 Rating 2004 Parents’ Choice Recommended Award 2004 Top Choice Software Award, Museum of Science Boston

• I SPY Mystery CD-ROM

Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products for 2006 Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Software//CD-ROM/High-Tech Products for 2006 Best Interactive Games of 2006, Child Magazine Best of 2006 Technology, Parent & Child Magazine 2006 Best Video Games for Kids, Best PC Puzzler – Nick Jr. Magazine Editor’s Choice, Children’s Technology Revue

• I SPY Fun House CD-ROM

National Parenting Center Seal of Approval

• I SPY Treasure Hunt (Leapster)

National Parenting Center Seal of Approval Parents’ Choice Silver Award

• I SPY FUN HOUSE (Nintendo DS)

The National Parenting Center’s 2008 Seal of Approval Kids First! Endorsement Parents’ Choice Recommended

• Ultimate I SPY (Wii)

iParenting Media Award Parents’ Choice Gold Award

TV

• I SPY TV Series

2004 USA Film Festival – Finalist Telly Awards – Finalist Parent’s Choice Award – Silver Honor Award Chicago International Television Award – Certificate of Merit 2003 Chicago International Children’s Film Festival – Certificate of Merit Chicago International Television Award – Certificate of Merit – Program Chicago International Television Award – Certificate of Merit – Series Daytime Emmy Award – Winner – Individual Animation (Pete Sluszka) International Film & Video Festival – Screening & 3rd Place certificate Literacy in Media Awards – Finalist Parent’s Choice Award – Silver Medal Shenandoah University Parent’s Guide – Recommended USA Film Festival – Finalist

Games & Puzzles

• I Spy Preschool Game

1998 Canadian Toy Testing Council Three Stars Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award Parents Choice Approved 2002 PlayDate Top-Selling Board Game

• I Spy Flip 5

2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award

• I Spy Ready, Set, Silhouette

2009 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award

• I Spy Bingo Game

2003 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award Canadian Toy Testing Council Three Stars Creative Child Magazine "Preferred Choice"

• I Spy Memory Game

1995 Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products Duracell Kids Choice National Toy Award Learning Magazine Teacher’s Choice Award National Parenting Publication, Honors Award Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Seal Award Parenting Magazine Best Toys of the Year Parents Choice Gold Seal of Excellence Parents Magazine Best Toys & Games Working Mother Magazine The Right Toys for the Right Age 1997 Specialty Retailer Top Toys 2004 Dr. Toy’s Best Classic Products

• I Spy Travel Game

2003 Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Vacation Products 2002 Parents Choice Gold Seal of Excellence

• I Spy 3D

2008 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Seal Award 2007 Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Products IParenting Media Award sCanadian Toy Council 2 Stars

• I Spy Eagle Eye Game

2006, Dr. Toy’s 10 Best Games Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products National Parenting Center Seal of Approval National Parenting Publications Honors, Creative Child Magazine "Preferred Choice" iParenting Media Award Canadian Toy Testing Council Three stars 2007 Learning Express Best Game

• I Spy Private Eye

2008 National Parenting Seal of Approval Award Creative Child Preferred Choice Award Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products Dr. Toy’s Top 10 Games NAPPA Award Winners

• I Spy Spooky Night

2004 Canadian Toy Testing Council Award Three Stars Creative Child Magazine Preferred Choice Educational Games Dr. Toy’s Best Smart Play/Smart Toy Products Dr. Toy’s 100 Best Children’s Products iParenting Media Award Nick Jr. Family Magazine Top 50

• I Spy Monster Workshop Puzzle (63 Pc)

1998 Working Mother Magazine The Right Toys for the Right Age

• I Spy 1,2,3 Floor Puzzle

1998 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award

I Spy GO FISH Card Game 1999 Canadian Toy Testing Council Award Three Stars Crayola Kids Magazine "The Years Best Toys" Women’s Day "Top Toys Under $10"

• I Spy SNAP Card Game

1999 Canadian Toy Testing Council Award Three Stars Crayola Kids Magazine’s “The Years Best Toys” 2000 Southeastern Wisconsin “Big Cheese” Toy Test

External links

• Jean Marzollo Website I Spy Page
• Walter Wick Website I SPY Page
• Scholastic I SPY Page
• TV Tropes page and promotional pre-release material for I Spy Fantasy