How 'I Spy' Books Are Made

The "I Spy" book series has captured the imagination of millions of readers. Part of what made these books so magical is that all of the images were created with real objects. Photographer and photo-illustrator Walter Wick carefully arranged each scene and hid the objects. Then author Jean Marzollo wrote the rhymes. Since "I Spy" Walter has written and photographed the "Can You See What I See" series and "Hey, Seymour!." Walter's newest book, "A Ray of Light", uses beautiful photographs to teach kids about the principles of light.

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How 'I Spy' Books Are Made

[Emma.S.]

I remember being in the library and some kid would whip this out and everyone would crowd around trying to find the thing first.

[steakslapn]

As a kid I used to spend hours just starring at the pictures blown away by all the detail. Especially the miniature scenes, those were my favourite. I still to this day have a love of making miniatures because of this man's photos.

[blakehofmans]

Reading these at my schools library always gave me this feeling I can’t explain. Like surreal and lonely / creepy but also made me happy and was an escape from the reality of my boring library class. I see a whole bunch of other people having the same feelings and it blows my mind.

[jojoversus]

I'm seeing a lot of comments all saying that these books gave kids a feeling they cant seem to describe. Everyone felt the same way, yet nobody knew anyone else felt that way & everybody shares the same emotion. It's very surreal.

[nicolewisse]

there’s just something so whimsical about every photo he takes, especially the ones that are like mini landscapes. this man practically shaped my childhood

[Alexandriandria]

This man was a distinct part of my childhood without even realizing it. I’m so appreciative of his work

[isaac]

"I'll write the rhymes, you spend weeks building the sets."

Seems like a fair deal.

[fatimaasif]

i like how everyone in the comments are talking about this distinct feeling we all collectively felt

[Inflake]

I spy with my little eye:

_a blessed youtube recommendation_

[ajicycles]

How 'I Spy' Books Are Made
1% paper
99% nostalgia

[pelicantacos]

When the teacher asked you to choose a book to read and you choose this because it had more pictures than letters

[MusicalJourneysThruCinema]

The Rube Goldberg contraption page in the I Spy School Days book was my favorite. I loved figuring out how it would work as a kid.

[Halbairn]

*Old elementary days:*
Me and the boys spending most of the time in the library with an I Spy book.

[intermilahn]

Damn, I didn’t realise how complicated it is to make these books. Massive respect🙌🏻

[joannelee]

These always gave me such an eerie, quiet, melancholic vibe as a kid, but in the best way possible...?? Same energy as that train car filled with puppets from polar express or an empty grocery store late at night, they’re so otherworldly

[jillianvanrhyn]

For a kid with ADD/ASD the I Spy books kept me occupied for hours, they're a fond part of my childhood. So cool to learn more about them! Props to Wick for such a creative mind!

[misakikuran]

I always wanted the toys and things that were in the “I Spy” books

[jackhelm]

I loved these books, but I also can’t describe a weird sense of loneliness I got when looking at the photos, especially recently with all the nostalgic feelings combined with it.

[kadundundun]

Man .. I haven’t thought about these books in ages. I was a lonely kid and I used to just sit with those all day and not only find the list of hidden stuff but make new things. Like finding all the stuff that Starts with P or things in this room. This man literally shaped my whole life. Thank you

[samgspot]

This guy came to speak to my school when I was in 3rd grade. Needless to say, we were all in presence of the living legend and all of us were in awe. He even brought Seymour, the little figure which was in all I Spy pictures!