I Spy Little Book

I Spy Board Books

by Jean Marzollo, Walter Wick (Photographer)

Rhyming verses invite readers to find hidden objects in the photographs.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction

26 pages, Board Book

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

Jean Marzollo was an American children's author and illustrator best known for the I Spy series, a best-selling and award-winning collection written entirely in rhythm and rhyme and illustrated by Walter Wick. Over her career, she wrote more than 100 books for children, parents, and educators, including Help Me Learn Numbers 0-20, The Little Plant Doctor, and Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King. Born and raised in Connecticut, she graduated from the University of Connecticut and earned a master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She taught high school English and later worked in educational publishing, serving for 20 years as editor of Scholastic’s Let’s Find Out Magazine. Later in life, she began illustrating her own books.

Reviews

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another book for my baby cousin, this one is a gift from my sister. We both grew up with the I Spy books but she really fell in love with them and had many of the computer games that she also played growing up. One of her wishes is to create her own I Spy type book one day. She’s a big fan of the photography.

This is a great beginner book for the series. The pieces you’re looking for are big but the photos are still artful and of the traditional I Spy style. The riddles are also much more simple and not quite “riddles” at all.

I think my baby cousin will like it. I hope it inspires her to look at fine details and explore the world around her.

[eggtart]

Holy crap! I can’t believe I forgot this book Omg talk about going down memory lane

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

My toddler is a visual learner and loves all of the I Spy books. She always has one or two checked out from the library. They have been great vocabulary builders for her because there are so many items in the pictures that I would not otherwise think to show her. I do not usually read the text to her. We enjoy talking about what she sees, or I will randomly choose things to tell her I spy, and she looks for them. Sometimes, we will look for the items listed in the text together.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carmen is obsessed with the little plastic baby on one of the pages & sometimes just seeks it out! This book is sing-songy, it has a rhythm & great for tracking. It is a primary skill that will help with reading & being able to move their eyes from left to right on the page. They look at the picture on the left & have to find it again on the right.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very easy for younger kids - maybe a little too easy for older kids, this one doesn't get much use anymore. We've had to buy other books in the genre that were more advanced.

[Kaethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not every toddler will go for these books, but for those who do, the parent will be so very grateful. They're like magic.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Spy Little Book (I Spy Board Books) by Jean Marzollo – I read the first one sitting in the floor of the Wake Forest Elementary School Library with such glee that Mrs. Burns started saving the new ones for me. I got to check them all out first until I graduated from 5th grade. This series is still such a happy memory that I know your little reader will love the lush illustrations too! Happy Reading!

[Isabella Brady]

This is a very classic i spy concept, that is a very short rhyming riddles paired with colorful photographic scenes where children are invited to find specific objects hidden amoung a jumble of toys and items. This book is roughly for 3-4 year olds, as it is a search and find puzzles and early vocab. I notcied while reading this that when talking about whats on eah page can help the little ones learn words and focus their attention.

[Scooby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it doesn't count but my 4yrs old loves this book

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series. Wish there were more at the library. Would love to own a copy of this I Spy version for toddlers.

[Dean Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So fun to look for things!

[Jessica DeWitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid "I Spy" book. My one-year-old occasionally engages with it, which I call a win!

[Chelsea Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

gotta meet my goal

[Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2026
Harper brought it home from preschool. She did a great job finding all the pictures!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Spy for babies! Get them started young!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect little "I Spy" book for toddlers! Logan had so much fun finding the different objects, and he was so pleased with himself when he did!

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

James doesn't quite get this book, but he loves the pictures and there are so many different items for us to point out and teach him about. Bought this at a garage sale and am loving it.

[Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love books like this because they are very easy to make up games depending on the age of the reader.

[Joshua's Mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great beginner I spy book for toddlers.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

A board book seek and find that works more to build vocabulary using familiar objects as opposed to presenting a real challenge as the picture books series does. Great for sharing with toddlers.

[Haley Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great way for word association to begin with younger children- seeing the word and finding the matching picture

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book for visual children.

[Kitlet Graham · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don’t really like this book.