39 Bestselling I Spy Books Your Mini-Detective Will Cherish

The classic game of I spy has been immortalized in the fabulous I Spy books series, and we have brought together this list of some of the best volumes around. Full of beautiful photography which will appeal to kids and parents alike, these books will challenge even novice readers to solve the riddles and find the objects.

I Spy books are timeless classics which have been enjoyed for decades – here is our list of some old and some new works to delight young readers.

I Spy an Apple

If you’ve never tried an I Spy book, why not start at the beginning with A? I Spy an Apple is full of brightly colored pictures and easy to solve riddles that will keep your child amused as he or she searches for the items hidden in plain sight. For age range 4 – 7.

$12.08

I Spy a Dinosaur's Eye

This level 1 picture book is perfect for young scholars from the age of 4, with short rhyming sentences and brightly colored pictures to capture their imagination. I Spy a Dinosaur’s Eye contains 32 pages of riddles and photographs that will grab their attention again and again. An ideal book for new readers.

$3.99

I Spy Spectacular

Get those detective specs on and search for clues among the beautifully nostalgic photographs in this aptly named Spectacular I Spy book. From old fashioned building blocks to whimsical toy shop windows from days gone by, this book is full of picture riddles to delight and intrigue children in grade levels: Preschool – 2.

$13.99

I Spy Lightning in the Sky

If your child loves to see beside the seaside, then this is the picture book for him. The 32 pages within this book are filled with ocean-themed photographs and the riddles your child needs to find the pictures hidden within. It’s shore to be a big hit with curious kids everywhere. For ages 4-8.

$12.83

I Spy Book of Picture Riddles

I spy: A Book of Picture Riddles will be a much loved addition to any child’s learning library, as it encourages critical thinking and observation, as well as lots and lots of fun. Played for decades, I Spy is an educational game which is brought together in this wonderfully illustrated book for 4 to 8 year-olds.

$9.89

I Spy School

Get the kiddos in the mood for school with this paperback version of the hugely popular I Spy series. Recommended for children from Preschool age, this book contains 32 pages of riddles and rhymes to help your children get their thinking caps on and find the objects hidden on the brightly colored pages.

$3.99

I Spy Treasure Hunt

Aargh me hearties, feast yer eyes on this treasure trove of riddles buried within the I Spy Treasure Hunt book! With 32 pages of sea-faring images hidden inside the illustrations, this book will keep young buccaneers from the age of 2 solving riddles and searching for that lost booty day and night.

$7.99

I Spy an Egg in a Nest

Kids as young as 4 will love getting up close and personal with nature as they delve into the pages of this picture book. I Spy: An Egg in a Nest is chock full of the rhyming riddles which kids know and love, and which will point them in the right direction for solving the clues.

$4.95

I Spy A Scary Monster

Full of s-s-spooky scary monsters, this gorgeous picture book will thrill and chill young readers as they creep through the pages, reading the picture riddles and finding the objects hidden within. Suitable for grade levels Preschool to 3, they’ll find a host of ghosts, witches, and monsters to keep them just the right side of scared.

$4.95

I Spy A Skeleton

Perfect for Halloween, this picture book is 32 pages of educational games of I Spy, as children read the riddles and use them to search for the hidden objects floating around between the covers. Kids as young as 4 will be screaming with delight in their quest for skeletons, skulls and other worldly beings.

$3.99

I Spy Numbers

Becoming an expert at I Spy will be as easy as one, two, three with the I Spy Numbers picture book. There are any number of riddles printed within the pages of this handsome book, and even the youngest of readers will be able to enjoy it as they learn their numbers and solve the clues.

$3.99

I Spy Year Round Challenger

Do you have a child who’s mad on educational games? This superb I Spy book was created with those kids in mind – the ones who keep on solving every puzzle that’s thrown at them. Designed for children aged 4-8, this book contains a calendar of themed I Spy puzzles that will keep them guessing all year.

$12.49

I Spy Spooky Night

For kids who love their picture riddles with a side of creepy, there’s the I Spy Spooky Night book. With chilling clues on every page, this picture book will fright and delight in equal measures, as children aged 6 and up read the bone-rattling riddles to find the hidden objects. Comes with bonus extra riddles.

$13.42

I Spy Mystery

The appeal of I Spy books is no mystery, but that’s exactly what this one is! I Spy Mystery’s 40 full color pages contain 13 photographs with a mysterious theme in which different objects are hidden. Super sleuths must crack the fun riddles which accompany each picture to find the hidden items.

$11.59

I Spy Fantasy Book

Weave a wonderland of fantasy by opening the pages of this I Spy book, and immersing yourself in make believe and myth. Children from 4 – 8 will love reading the rhyming riddles contained within, and using them to find the objects hidden in scenes such as Clouds, Into the Woods, and Yikes!

$6.23

I Spy Super Challenger

From Preschool to grade 3 and beyond, this book will be enjoyed by any child who is a fan if educational games (even if they don’t know they’re educational). There are 12 glorious photographs in this book, in which many items are hidden and can be found by reading the riddles which accompany them.

$11.89

I Spy A Balloon

POP this I Spy book in front of your little one and he or she will be immediately engrossed. The easy to follow rhymes provide clues to items hidden within the full color photographs on each page, while the simple short sentences make it ideal for even the newest readers.

$1.18

I Spy Fun House

If you suffer from Coulrophobia you might want to look away, as this superb I Spy tome is FULL of clowns! Based on a Fun House theme, this picture riddle book will give your child all the fun of the far as they roll up, roll up, to solve the riddles and find the hidden objects.

$10.49

I Spy Extreme Challenger

When your kids have taken on the challenges of I Spy books and won, take things up a notch by presenting them with the I Spy Extreme Challenger! Made for readers who want something a little harder, this volume contains new riddles and ‘busier’ photographs to really test their sleuthing powers. For readers 4 – 8.

$5.52

I Spy Funny Teeth

An I Spy book that early readers can really get their teeth into! I Spy Funny Teeth is aimed at novice readers who will be able to easily follow the short sentences and use them to find the corresponding objects hidden within the photographs of lots and lots of things. Suitable from Preschool to Grade 3.

$3.99

I Spy a Penguin

A veritable zoo of animals reside between the covers of this picture book, all waiting for your child to find them among the photographs. Aimed at Preschool to grade 3 readers, this is the 7th book in the I Spy Scholastic Reader series and features rhyming and rhythmical riddles to delight and excite.

$1.18

I Spy Sticker Book and Picture Riddles

Now for something a little different. Still featuring the same much loved I Spy photographs and riddles, the I Spy Sticker Book also comes with more than 500 reusable stickers for kids to place on the activity spreads to make up their very own rhyming puzzles. Perfect for rainy days indoors for 4-8 year olds.

$5.98

I Spy Little Animals

Most kids are fascinated by animals, so get your own little monkeys puzzling over the I Spy Little Animals picture book. Ideally suited for younger readers, this fabulous book contains simple rhyming clues designed to enable curious tots to spot the animals and objects mentioned within the beautiful photographs contained within.

$4.95

I Spy a Butterfly

The photographs inside this I Spy book are gorgeous, and definitely different from the illustrations inside other kids’ books. I Spy a Butterfly presents a whole host of creatures (including a butterfly) to be spied within the pages, along with other random objects which will be fun to search for with the all-new riddles enclosed.

$9.09

I Spy School Days

Eyes to the front of the classroom please! Kids will have so much fun looking for the objects mentioned in the rhyming clues which make up this picture riddle book. Based on a school blackboard, these charming photographs feature chalked images which hide in plain sight right there on the pages! For Preschool to Grade 3.

$26.93

I Spy Thanksgiving

Let your kids ‘fall’ in love with the educational game that is I Spy. This Thanksgiving themed picture book will appeal to children aged between 4 and 7 as they read the rhyming clues and use them to find the hidden Thanksgiving objects in the photographs. With all-new riddles for 32 pages of old-fashioned fun.

$5.32

I Spy A Pumpkin

The ninth book in the bestselling I Spy Scholastic series, I Spy a Pumpkin is a spookily good read for young learners. Using some of the best loved photographs from previously published books, this volume includes brand new riddles to entertain boys and ghouls everywhere. The perfect read for Halloween, from ages 4 to 8.

$3.99

I Spy Animals

Indulge your child’s love of nature and the creatures that dwell in it with the I Spy book of Animals. Nestled among the random objects in each photograph are animals, birds, insects and more for your child to find, aided by the wonderfully rhythmic riddles which accompany them. Interactive fun for readers aged 3 – 5.

$3.99

I Spy Merry Christmas

This adorable I Spy book is full of Christmas Cheer, and is sure to become a favorite in preparation of the Big Man’s arrival. Featuring two books in one, (I Spy Santa Claus and I Spy a Candy Cane), solving the riddles inside will be like stepping into Santa’s workshop at the North Pole!

$5.99

I Spy a School Bus

With all sorts of objects just waiting to be discovered inside the covers of this fabulous book, I Spy a School Bus combines new riddles with old photographs to create a delightful book for level 1 readers. With 32 pages to test their gray matter, this will picture book will be read again and again.

$3.99

I Spy Little Hearts

Show your love for a little one on Valentine’s Day or any day with the I Spy Little Hearts picture book. Kids will be able to find the love-themed objects hidden among the beautiful photography on each page, and will love the holographic foil on the cover, too. Aimed at 3-5 year olds.

$6.28

I Spy Christmas

With a beautifully festive feel, this picture riddle book features some of the most delightful Christmassy photographs you will ever see. With baubles, frosty scenes, and wintry toyshop windows, this book would make a perfect pre-Christmas activity in the run up to the 25th, or even a coffee table book as part of your Christmas decorations.

$5.48

I Spy Letters

We don’t need to spell out for you how much kids love I Spy books – although this book does just that! I Spy Letters contains 14 interactive photographs in which letters of the alphabet are hidden, and will delight young readers from 3-5 as they work their way through the simple riddles on each page.

$3.99

I Spy Little Wheels

Keep the wheels turning in your child’s brain by working your way through the I Spy Little Wheels book. Aimed at children in the 2-3 age range, this delightful book contains 26 pages of color photographs and transport related riddles for kids to read and solve. With planes, trains, automobiles, and lots of other vehicles.

$1.35

I Spy Ultimate Challenger Book

For kids who have mastered the art of the picture riddles in an I Spy book comes the Ultimate Challenger! With twelve look and find photographs, compiled from the eight original I Spy books, this volume contains brand new and more challenging clues to test the grand masters of picture riddles. For ages 4 plus.

$6.24

I Spy Gold Challenger

Good picture books which challenge kids are worth their weight in gold. Enter the ‘I Spy Gold Challenger’. With a brand new holographic foil cover and fresh riddles, this version presents ever more complex and challenging puzzles to readers aged 4-8, using some of the best-loved photographs from the original series.

$9.99

I Spy Little Bunnies

Bunnies are as endearing now as they’ve always been, and this I Spy book celebrates these fluffy little fur balls in all their stuffed glory. The ‘Little Bunny’ book features adorable bunny related items for tots to search for among the beautiful photographs throughout the book. With a new holographic foil cover, for ages 2-3.

$6.28

I Spy a Candy Cane

For children aged from 4-8, the I Spy A Candy Cane picture book contains charming photographs collated from previous issues of the best-selling book series, with all-new easy to read riddles for kids to read and explore. Perfect for the Holiday season, it features whimsical pictures which hide the items your child needs to find.

$5.61

I Spy Book Bundle

The only thing better than an I spy book is another I Spy book, and this one contains 4-in-1! Funny Teeth, Dinosaur’s Eye, School Bus, and a Scary Monster are all there just waiting to be explored by your child. With easy-to-read riddles and beautiful photography, this bumper book will keep them amused for hours.

$6.99

12 DIY I Spy Ideas

Diy I Spy Bag

This DIY I spy bag is the ideal distraction for tots who get bored easily, especially in formal surroundings. Keep them amused by letting them search for the different items buried within the poly pellets inside the clear pencil case. With just a few inexpensive supplies, you could even make themed ones to suit different occasions.

How to Make an I Spy Bottle

Repurpose a plastic soda bottle into a home-made I Spy bottle, perfect for when the little ones need to calm down a little. Using uncooked rice and as many or as few small trinkets as you like, you can create one of these versions of an all-time favorite educational game for a fraction of the cost.

Bathtub I Spy

Bath time can be a minefield when you have kids. Turn the tub into a game of I Spy and watch them look forward to it instead! By simply adding foam letters and some plastic toys to the water your children will be able to play their own game and get clean at the same time.

Diy I Spy Game

Why not have a go at making your own version of this favorite educational game by following the simple steps in this blog post. Have fun with the kids as you make it, or do it in secret as a gift for long car journeys or rainy days when they’re stuck indoors. Includes printable sheet.

I Spy Bottles Tutorial

Follow this sandy guide to making your own DIY I spy bottle, using empty soda bottles, sand, and tiny objects to hide in it. Half the fun is in collecting the objects, and once you have enough, put them in with the sand, seal, and shake to mix them all up. Great fun for bored kids.

I Spy Quilt Book

As a great alternative to the classic I Spy book, this homemade fabric version may take a little time to put together, but it will be worth it! Using lots of fabric offcuts, you can follow this guide to make an accordion style book that looks beautiful and won’t tear.

Dry Erase I Spy Bag Tutorial

This Dry Erase I Spy game is genius, because once it’s made it can be used over and over again! Photograph all the objects you are going to include, then print and laminate for a wipe-clean list for the kids to mark off. The use of cheerful, colorful fleece makes these a joy to behold.

I Spy Fabric Matching Game Tutorial

If you have a lot of fabric scraps left over from other crafting endeavours, this DIY tutorial is perfect for you. Combining two well-loved classics, this fabric game of matching I Spy will last and last, and would make a beautiful gift for any little one. All it takes is different fabrics, batting, and patience.

I Spy Place Mat Tutorial

Stop the kids’ hangry outbursts as they wait for their dinner with these adorable I Spy placemats. Using fabrics with different pictures and colors on, you can make a set of these gorgeous quilted mats to keep them amused as they look for different objects. Follow Beatnik Kids’ excellent picture tutorial for instructions.

Diy Wedding I Spy Tutorial

For wedding favors for kids with a difference, check out B-Inspired Mama’s inspired tutorial on making DIY Wedding I Spy Jars. Not only will they keep little guests amused during the speeches, but they can be played with again and again at home, and even look gorgeous as an ornament and reminder of your special day.

Free Printable I Spy Games

Not everyone is crafty, but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying DIYs, especially if you know where to look. Thanks to U Create Crafts and Teepee Girl, you can print out these readymade I spy games in a matter of seconds. Perfect for rainy days or party gifts, laminating them means they are reusable, too.

I Spy Party Goo Treasure Hunt

This super simple DIY I Spy goo game needs little instruction, as it self-explanatory but genius at the same time. A great idea for a summer’s day, or a kids’ party, several kids can play at once as they delve into a tub of goo to search for their list of hidden items.