Invites youngsters to make observations through a die-cut "spy hole" and use provided clues to guess the identity of colorful underwater creatures before turning the pages to count animals, in an engaging and sumptuously detailed picture book by the creator of I Spy With My Little Eye. - (Baker & Taylor)Asks readers to peek through die-cut holes and use clues to identify and count marine animals, including dolphins, clownfish, and sea horses. - (Baker & Taylor)
"There are many colorful creatures to find under the sea. Look through the spy hole and use the clues to guess the creature, then turn the page to count the animals"-- - (Baker & Taylor)
Look through each eye-catching spy hole to count a new underwater creature!
There are many colorful creatures to find under the sea. Look through the spy hole and use the clues to guess the creature, then turn the page to count the animals. Watch as toddlers quickly become engaged in the game and learn to recognize and count sea creatures. - (Random House, Inc.)
Edward Gibbs studied illustration at college but became a graphic designer, where he fine-tuned the art of distilling detailed or difficult ideas into their simplest form. He uses this skill in all his books, including the first I Spy book, I Spy with My Little Eye. Edward Gibbs lives in London. - (Random House, Inc.)
Publishers Weekly Reviews
In an aquatic companion to I Spy with My Little Eye, Gibbs keeps the format of the first book while offering an animal guessing game that counts down from seven. A circular window on the left shows part of an animal's face, along with the words: "I spy with my little eye..." Opposite, the sentence is completed ("...something with a curly tail"), appearing along with a circular die-cut that reveals more of that animal's features and an additional clue ("I am named after an animal you can ride"). Intervening spreads reveal the mystery animals, in this case six colorful sea horses outlined with scribbly ink. Slightly more subdued but just as much fun as its predecessor. Ages 2–5. (Mar.)
[Page ]. Copyright 2011 PWxyz LLC
School Library Journal Reviews
PreS-K—Following the same successful formula as in I Spy with My Little Eye (Candlewick, 2011), Gibbs offers peeks, via die-cut circles, into the marine world: "I spy with my little eye…something with a curly tail. (I am named after an animal you can ride.)" On the following spread, readers will find six seahorses. Why six? The author is introducing basic numbers—a countdown from seven to one-as well as aquatic creatures. The digitally created illustrations are well executed, mainly composed of muted blues and greens but with some colorful seahorses and bright sand crabs invigorating the earlier pages. Then Gibbs turns the tables on readers, as is his custom, and the last creature says, "I'm a SHARK, and I spy…YOU!" This cleverly designed treatment will inspire children to take a closer look at life in the ocean, at least in the pages of a book.—Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY
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