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

[@Alexandriandria]

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

[@ForecieYT]

Same

[@uhhmax]

Alexandria M same

[@grobanite4ever85]

Same!

[@zelent]

Same here!!!

[@Aprildiamonds123]

Same!

[@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.

[@tiramiisu0]

@Nathan Bitman You have my respect

[@lilyseiner8442]

Omg yesss

[@not-so-happypappypatton]

I always read those in the bathroom or at home so no one could take it

[@Mecal21]

Yes

[@excuseyou7198]

Yeah, when someone got out an I Spy book during silent reading time during kindergarten, everyone just huddled around that person.

[@Inflake]

I spy with my little eye: _a blessed youtube recommendation_

[@user-kb1yo2ny8e]

You make music?

[@Inflake]

J McCoy yes!

[@monaewilliams2187]

For once 🤣

[@crunchy_souls9188]

Meapogoco Ooh

[@Ah-tb9eg]

Even a year later.

[@blakehofmans8486]

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.

[@phobi3545]

yeah it's pretty liminal

[@jojoversus1100]

I'm seeing several commenta from people all saying the same thing. It's odd. So many people feel the same way, yet cant describe it.

[@nbachillzone8725]

dude fr idk how to describe the feeling but we all felt it

[@goldentronicc.]

@@jojoversus1100 its called liminal spaces

[@crumblenut4304]

YES ITS FINALLY BEEN PUT INTO WORDS this man and his work has contributed to a large part of my childhood and even my personality today.

[@isaac4404]

"I'll write the rhymes, you spend weeks building the sets." Seems like a fair deal.

[@brianliveshere]

Haha! I always feel like that for children's story books, where the author gets first listing for writing a few lines, and the illustrator gets second listing for spending hours and hours on vivid paintings.

[@acidwaste00]

@@brianliveshere but if the illustrator could write a few lines, then why would he need the author?? because the author has the full idea, what the story is, the characters you will draw, and the words they will say. the idea is the actual hardest part.

[@ioncekilledamanwithmyshoe]

You’re underestimating how much work writing is

[@darthtyranus7447]

I think you’re joking. But it actually is a fair deal.

[@normalcat7296]

Plus its even harder to make young reader understand and entertained

[@nicolewisse4536]

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

[@santicheeks1106]

They made me feel weird in a good way and bad way

[@bobthebuilder7911]

@@santicheeks1106 THATS EXACTLY HOW I FELT

[@santicheeks1106]

@@bobthebuilder7911 I dont know how to explain it, like sad, weirded out, happy, something I have no idea how to explain it

[@seigeengine]

They weren't really a part of my childhood, though I was aware of them, and had seen them occasionally. But there is something very compelling about the photographs.

[@sharkie9975]

Santi Cheeks I feel the exact same way looking back at the books and watching this video

[@steakslapn9724]

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.

[@lastswordfighter]

Same I especially love the Christmas scenes.

[@authenticpug]

yo same, im obsessed with miniatures and its definitely because of this man's work :3

[@AbelG8781]

No lie, I've been model railroading since I was in diapers back in the late 90s, these books were definitely some of the best a kid could have, I loved seeing the trains in there lol

[@jasonandriulaitis7885]

Indeed.

[@kindaakaii867]

I _loved_ that space one

[@jojoversus1100]

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.

[@TheEncouragementKid]

fax

[@antarcticmapper3460]

There’s something creepy with the books tbh

[@gradystanley5812]

Not that surreal it’s just nostalgia

[@NoneYuh-unknownX]

Dude wtf r u on 😭

[@Middle.Name.Redacted]

As children, you don't really express your feelings the way adults do. As children, we were too young to understand and explain these complex things to others

[@jackhelm1796]

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.

[@nickk4311]

It gave me some good vibes that I have never felt since

[@travis3624]

Omg same

[@MemeRepublic]

Jack Helm that’s so true!

[@nicko24426]

Melancholy is the word you're looking for. You're probably yearning for a simpler time in life, when things amazed us much more easily.

[@ananassuzerain2291]

Look, even Ol’ Donney enjoys I Spy.

[@joannelee5574]

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

[@DuckInGameStop]

Puppet car in the polar express was scary as hell, but i agree with the empty grocery store part

[@R3D-3Y3-B4ND1T]

The word your looking for is saudade

[@wowpow2263]

Same i think it was because the picture was so vividly creative but so still and concentrated, otherworldly is the perfect word to describe it

[@prod.april1k]

I got that feeling with the can you see what I see books. Just something about it was creepy but not the kind of creepy that you would be scared of

[@lepain0278]

Dude same! Glad I’m not the only one. Always got a lonely empty feeling from the photos

[@intermilahn6245]

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

[@vivien59]

1st comment

[@jamesruppert3152]

Well he chose to be more difficult than It had to be. TBH

[@dmoneyswagg64]

James Ruppert good things are rarely easy to do. I spy is the most popular search and find style of book because it is the most complicated and because it takes great time and detail.

[@fatimaasif3761]

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

[@Pearl1010]

I don’t know what everyone means when they say that 😬

[@aydenator27]

@@Pearl1010 too bad!

[@joshhewitt6483]

@@Pearl1010 Did you look at these books as a kid?

[@Pearl1010]

@@joshhewitt6483 I did! But I didn’t feel weird or alone or anything…

[@joshhewitt6483]

@@Pearl1010 Well everyone is not the same :) I think everyone is sayin they got a certain feeling but not everyone means the exact same feeling. For me personally it was a mysterious feeling like you're in a town with no one in it or something.

[@misakikuran9027]

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

[@supersmilyface1]

Me too. I once was looking through them just to see what things I wanted. XD

[@fleetadmiral5938]

supersmilyface1 SSF1 LoL same

[@shermanwalsh]

1k like

[@socrates1168]

Me too

[@drinkmoreoil]

SAMEEE

[@Halbairn]

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

[@stinkabutt21]

d sauce..... what a great name lol

[@jesm5698]

Ikr

[@Kai_Keller02]

That and guiness world records😂

[@Halbairn]

@@Kai_Keller02 basically the treasure finds in a library: I spy books, Guinness World Record books and those thick encyclopedias rich kids try to flex about.

[@gabrielacarrillo1801]

Yesssssss sooooo true😂

[@ajicycles]

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

[@_lizbeths_]

austin mcrayon awesome:)

[@a.s.i.n.i.n.e]

True

[@user-zg5oo5yk2v]

austin mcrayon 10% luck

[@ForecieYT]

Probably

[@baudilior.1513]

I remember these from my elementary school library 😂

[@jillianvanrhyn6860]

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!

[@Bat_andTalion]

For a kid who has ADHD, I had the same feeling. (I might be necroposting)

[@imkrisyoung]

Same!

[@FussyGoat94]

Same. I like to think it's because of the books that I'm so good at finding things all the time

[@LilChuunosuke]

Same here! I used to get so restless waiting for my pediatrician at the doctor's office growing up, but they had I Spy books in the healthy kids waiting room, the sick kids waiting room, and every examination room. I used to kick my feet and look through the books while I waited for the doctor to arrive. The only time I ever enjoyed going to the doctor was when I had that doctor in that office.

[@AWesomeDude23588]

shut up go away this is ADD's turn not ADHD's turn let us have some time without you ADHD people barging in@@Bat_andTalion

[@dougthedonkey1805]

Imagine being invited into his studio and accidentally knocking down a scene he’s been working 15 days on

[@lagtim327]

I would immediately begin scouring the studio for a toaster and a bathtub.

[@dougthedonkey1805]

@@lagtim327 that’s not good

[@hah-no.]

@@dougthedonkey1805 no, no I don’t think so

[@narrator6003]

@@dougthedonkey1805 no-no he has a point

[@iwonthesitateebltch3319]

@@dougthedonkey1805 welp

[@pelicantacos9993]

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

[@moisesm9602]

That stops in 3rd grade

[@Ben23464]

@@moisesm9602 every body did that in my 5th grade class

[@magix4152]

@@moisesm9602 i still do it and im 15 and I hate books

[@aivlysplath]

@@magix4152 That's sad. You should try reading graphic novels.

[@magix4152]

@@aivlysplath NEVA

[@sovietunionball1290]

This brings back so much nostalgia 😭

[@lorimitchell9025]

Soviet Union Ball this is my all time favorite book for kids. I still love them.

[@crowfoodd]

Soviet Union Ball wut...?

[@done4195]

Were you the Soviet knock-off books?

[@No_timezone77]

I know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ForecieYT]

Yes

[@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.

[@danieltapia-ruano1056]

Absolutely, it was so cool

[@killerkitten7534]

Same here, that was my favorite one

[@frogpastethedyke]

Yeah, I have many hours spent staring at that page.

[@lofaber5664]

Im so glad all the people under this comment had the exact same experience as me

[@ashkhol]

@@lofaber5664It lives rent free in my head, as does a lot of the other pictures in that book

[@faragar1791]

When I was a kid, I never actually bothered to find the hidden items. I just liked looking at the cool pictures.

[@101shapshifter]

Looking at these comments, looks like you're not alone. Even I was one of those kids.

[@collt091]

Same tbh

[@pepps1943]

Oh. How do you like being a serial killer as an adult?

[@TruePT]

@Faragar Same!!!

[@moonshinewolf4840]

Same I was just amazed by the style of the picture themselves

[@fallingbed1]

The haunted I Spy theme scared me as a kid

[@Joe-kg2dv]

A verified channel I see

[@peepandstitch]

Omg same I didn’t want to check that one out of the library But in our library there was a rocking chair for story time in school library time but if you go in at recess you can sit in the rocking chair and read, and me and my friend would squeeze into the rocking chair and find the eye spy together, each friend tackling another page! Too much fun, brings back memories 🥲😩

[@ABIXWEEZY]

Sameeeee but it’s forever my favorite!

[@peepandstitch]

@@ABIXWEEZY REALLY? you like the spooky one? I dont know anyone who likes it except my brother! hats off to you!

[@ce8196]

nobody would open that book in the because they thought it was “haunted”

[@KlLLERROBOT99]

I’m amazed to know that the I Spy books were made with real objects.

[@Tadfafty]

I always thought it was obvious.

[@coldstuff9784]

I found out it was photographed on my own as a kid because you can see the camera on some reflective objects.

[@calvinwilliams3526]

I think that would be pretty advanced for the time if it was computer generated and harder to paint it in photorealism

[@natashanabein]

I knew but never thought about it yknow?

[@Garbongoloid]

@@coldstuff9784 iSpy Pro+ unlocked

[@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!

[@NoneYuh-unknownX]

Lmao cute

[@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

[@comic12558]

Same-

[@theeasternspy266]

Same...

[@illbeyourmonster1959]

How long until these get banned from society because they encourage the development of critical objective thinking?

[@A.D.I.I.D.A]

😎

[@musicalmango5527]

I can remember this so vividly. The sound the spine of the book makes when you set it on the desk, the grubby feel of the hardback cover because every other kid at school as held this book, your chin resting on the page as you scan it, the smell of the pages because you’re looking at it so closely, the satisfaction when you found everything, the excitement of turning the page to see a brand new photo, the disappointment when you realize you’re getting to the end of the book, then once you finish you look at the cover of the book, “Walter Wick” in the fancy gold letters, man oh man.

[@thinkinyblinko6666]

Who rests their chin on the book? Ngl that's pretty unique man I've never even heard of somebody doing that and the mental image is very funny lol

[@jaycemcqueen306]

@@thinkinyblinko6666 I disagree, everyone I knew did this with the bigger ones since sometimes it took them a while. We’re talking about little kids here not adults

[@dylanspacedust7680]

this reads like something out of the christmas story

[@DBK_Productions]

That was very well put!

[@thinkinyblinko6666]

@@jaycemcqueen306 I guess you have a point but I still don't think I've ever seen anybody do this even when I was a kid.

[@peachthinks1853]

As a dyslexic kid I was so glad there was a book I could enjoy without struggle. Now as a dyslexic adult I’m glad I can still enjoy them.

[@COLMECTIGAMINGANDMORE]

is dyslexia horrible

[@whitneyafolabi2057]

@Bread Yeah. If you have it really bad.

[@Loserinator]

@@COLMECTIGAMINGANDMORE I only have a mild version so for me it’s sort of annoying but those who have the severe version really struggle to read at all

[@illbeyourmonster1959]

@@Loserinator Reading in public school is racist or classist or ableist or some shit now. Nobody is allowed to do it.

[@arianight9011]

I agree these books were my safe space

[@emmadraws14953]

Dude this guy is my hero, I loved I Spy as a kid, there was even a whole series of CD ROM games I used to play on my computer. The worlds he made were always so immersive, they made me feel like I could escape into them, and I've been chasing that feeling ever since

[@Zoopop13]

i still have my spooky mansion copy i play from time to time. i had school days and treasure island as well

[@AndrewJohnson-ny5nx]

Treasure Island was my JAM. I loved the miniature town you explored in that game.

[@emmadraws14953]

@@AndrewJohnson-ny5nx YEAH!! Do you remember the ice cream shop? That room SLAPPED

[@dineez627]

I loved everything I Spy. I even had the CD ROM I Spy Fantasy, Mystery, the spooky mansion one.

[@lil_sixxo]

Damn this man needs a raise I thought this was only printed not real objects 👏👏👏

[@maurialfaro7394]

Michael Mendez are you have stupit

[@misprinc1928]

He gives himself what he believes he’s worth. He’s self employed

[@peep6017]

lunx BaSick he is his own boss, he works for no one

[@awesomeman8385]

Let's say he gets just $1 from every book sold (most likely much more) that's $45,000,000. He's doing just fine

[@peep6017]

Awesome Man his net worth is 1.6 million now but back then he was rich

[@anoja31]

This took me waaayy back ugh. the nostalgia hit me like a train

[@luchilenium]

A little wooden one?

[@Yahmeen]

Made from scratch?

[@wolfetteplays8894]

anoja31 same

[@saltysweettart8873]

Same!!!!!

[@lawrence3710]

Yay the big 800!👏👏👏👏

[@ratelingo7526]

Did anyone else have a strange feeling they couldn’t explain when looking at I Spy books when you were younger?

[@averagechapstick]

Yeah. I think they're called Liminal Spaces.

[@BlaineMakesBeats]

As a kid it was magical seeing a whole city made from toys

[@Mikeocxlong]

Yeah...

[@HenryKrinkle420]

Every copy of I SPY is personalized.

[@gaiasguardian205]

Yeah, I know it now as appreciation for attention to detail.

[@oreo6623]

Ok but lets take a moment to appreciate how beautiful the images he takes are

[@TheB14HB14H]

That’s exactly what this video is doing lol

[@BananaPhoPhilly]

@@TheB14HB14H youtube comments are so downbad these days

[@TheB14HB14H]

@@BananaPhoPhilly dude don’t get me started lol

[@garrickschmitt8021]

did you watch the video?

[@fifiadera4682]

Bruh the spooky night eye spy one was my absolute favorite. And I loved to make up stories with the books along with the things I found and acted like they we're clues and I was a detective. Bruh the nastolgia

[@dylanr4854]

Same that was the best one

[@blackberry8615]

SAAME

[@linroo913]

Same!!

[@leah7610]

kidkittdy _ I KNOWWW. I loved the page with the room and the red carpet with the knights. Wowow. Nostalgia.

[@katherinegriffin23]

Oh my god that book was the essence of my childhood

[@brycej7961]

I can smell these images. Man this brings me back to elementary school

[@tiger_844]

Same!

[@fleekylady691]

Same

[@switchthechannel6317]

Smelled like newspaper print and other musty books.

[@thephilosopher5799]

When the teacher only had a few and yoh would try to get to it before the other kids. That was my experience. I only got to read it a few times my whole school year.

[@geoprism457]

Tro Oli 😌

[@juvx1039]

I remember my classmates and I would be fighting the other classes in elementary school during library time so we could grab all of these books! Lol.

[@user-ck9lm6xi1o]

JUVX The trick is to put the book on a shelf where it doesn’t belong, so only you know the location of it. But of course, Id never do that *COUGH COUGH*

[@rachelme4662]

Ha, same.

[@butaful101]

And now all you see is kids fighting over who got the most likes on fb lol... God if only time can go back

[@abbyw1125]

My school library only allowed us to pick one book

[@dhruvgarg3084]

666:6:::66;66::66;:66:666

[@GulperCatfish]

I love these images. It's like a surrealist artwork focused towards kids and I mean that in the best way possible. It still keeps that nice warm and fun kids book vibe while also mixing the surrealist confusion you get from looking at any surrealist art piece and that being put towards a search and find book is the aspect of this book that I think is pure genius.

[@alevalencia5671]

Woah. I remember when Walter Wick came to my school to explain how he made those books. He pulled out a projector with all the pictures and explained how he took pictures of stand still drops of water. For a 1st grader, I was really shook. I still have to this day my autographed I Spy book from him.

[@sneepsnorp1404]

I bet that book would sell for a pretty penny!

[@lockheart619]

That's amazing!

[@majorasiaa]

You're so lucky. I would never sell the book, I'd cherish that shit forever

[@fiferplayeralt7118]

Having an autographed I spy book would cost you thousands, if not hundred thousands, hell, millions, if much more to an experienced buyer? Billions. Keep that book for the rest of your life.

[@jasmintorres5696]

Yo what schools did you go tooooo. We didn’t get none of that

[@KatBlaque]

This was my FAVORITE part of being a kid. So much nostalgia. Thank you!

[@lemonwedge6664]

hi i think i know you

[@lemonwedge6664]

i was just watching your video lol:)

[@COLMECTIGAMINGANDMORE]

damn that is strange

[@elainad6728]

Ikr i loved them

[@elainad6728]

EVEN THE SHOWWWW

[@milkmanconspiracy4346]

I feel like the “rhyme writer” got the easier job.

[@AtariWow]

I spy a great way to make money

[@reddybear8506]

And I bet she was like let's split it 50-50 😂

[@oh1runningtooth709]

She might have got the easy part but she didn’t get the fun part

[@chadls921]

Lmao

[@z_is_for_zombie7423]

But not the fun one.

[@sourkoyote]

1 thing I’m not seeing being mentioned, is not only did he have all of this success, but he definitely inspired the “point & click mystery story” gaming genre where you have to find clues in specific scenes to progress the story.

[@marcie5502]

i also feel like he has a huge influence in why now a days people who have had i spy books as kids are fascinated with things like liminal spaces. pictures that give us some sort of comfort but also like something isnt quite right. i remember reading these books and then having dreams of me being in the pages and feeling lonely yet comforted and nostalgic. this made me realize that things like the backrooms are attempts to recreate that feeling. ive noticed that horror games tend to reflect the childhood of the creator or the target audience but in a more creepy and unsettling way.

[@chaosXP3RT]

I remember that game vaguely! Or one of them! My dad bought me the video game for his old work computer and I would play it after school while he worked! It was a really fun, but scary and interesting game. I remember some kind of Halloween theme

[@ThexDynastxQueen]

I Spy books are so addictive. You can drop a book in front of the most jaded teenagers or cynical adults and they will compete to become the Sherlock Holmes of hidden tiny objects within seconds. I love it.

[@epicwwiistuff6863]

I never seen these books before !!!!

[@ThexDynastxQueen]

@@epicwwiistuff6863 Really?! I always see them in libraries and bookstores (well the remaining few left). They're really fun books especially in a group so go get one!

[@TheDailyGlobe922]

i remembered readinng these in elemntery

[@Laura-jx7il]

I’ve also never seen these books i guess they are a US thing, but they look soo cool

[@Lunabyes]

i know what my pals and i are doing next time we have a sesh lmaoo

[@RonPaulRevolution500]

My childhood. Goosebumps and I Spy books. It's crazy remembering every picture they showed in this vid.

[@SalCapone6499]

Steve Robinson ERRRMURGURGD!!!! GOOSEBUMPS AND I SPY BUURKS!!!

[@pattycustodio4995]

Literally same

[@imjakepaul4497]

Steve Robinson true

[@Timbz47]

Fr

[@johnrachmiel2245]

This comment hits. I started collecting them as of this moment haha

[@DKay-gl3hv]

I remember as a kid one particular item, "An ear with eyes", stumped the hell out of a group of us. A few days later, after careful studying, I realized the riddle referred to a literal "ear" of corn with eyes and a grin. Great memories with the "I Spy" series.

[@renriquez1994]

wait... Are you sure!? I've spent years just assuming it was a mistake from the writer!

[@MrsBlack88]

I know what you mean!! When I was younger my dad’s friend would read with me and one moment in particular stands out when we were looking through the Christmas book and it said “black and white keys”. Being four years old, I was looking for an actual ring of keys...and then when the friend spotted it I realized they meant piano keys :’) blew little 4-year-old me’s mind

[@LouSassles]

Does this man realize how he was literally involved in most peoples childhood? Holy shit lol he sure as hell was in mine. I never cared for the words, it was always the pictures. I loved the models and the attention to detail. I blame him for the reason why I am SO detail oriented to everything

[@jian3734]

DUDE I’d completely forgotten about these books and just got such nostalgia from this video

[@sarathomas8499]

Truthhh

[@shennahniggins8594]

PLS SAME I LOVED THIS BOOK AND POINTING OUT OBJECTS WAY FASTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE

[@syrefayne8922]

SAME! All the pictures my brain just went "I recognize that!"

[@Angel_Billy4-30-23]

Hahaha, I know. It's crazy to see how they actually made these. I saw the video a while ago but it just popped up in my recommended so of course I clicked again.

[@znks7907]

Me too

[@AugustGreen_]

For some reason whenever I look at an I Spy book i get that impending sense of sadness that feels like "woah, the party is over and it's never happening again." I don't know exactly how to describe it, but it's something like that. Like "this is the last time that something that has been happening for a long time is happening" feeling.

[@nelson2145]

It’s called nostalgia

[@genesisp3884]

Yeah, to me it was nostalgia for a world that I never got to experience. As a kid, the old toys from like the 1920s-1960s feel made me feel like I wanted to be in that time period, that almost magical world, but I obviously couldn't, so it's like a longing for something you can never access.

[@tucker8071]

@@nelson2145 I don't think it's nostalgia. I Spy books also give me a weird feeling as well, that nothing else gives. It is like the feeling of looking into an alien world or something. Not sure how to describe it, but that was why I always found the books so fascinating.

[@louandlilly]

@@tucker8071 like looking at a parallel universe of our world? … It’s the same but also different

[@tucker8071]

@@louandlilly yes!

[@0nizz802]

I always imagined myself living in some of the pages and how I would spend my time into wondering around.

[@jellybean7283]

Same, the pages were always so calming

[@starlit-rain]

Me too, I especially loved the one with the clouds and the naturally themed one :)

[@dachshund5340]

Me too!!

[@kimmyw010]

Omg me toooo!!!

[@user-tw4qo6xi3c]

Me too OMG!

[@theodorevlachos6824]

You know as a kid you take these kinds of books completely for granted, like “yes, this is a fun thing that exists.” But as a kid I’d spend a lot of time finding all the hidden things and not once did I ever ponder about who and these books are made. I just love them even more now❤️

[@Gojirius]

When I was a kid, my dad had an accident and was in the hospital for a while. My mom spent countless hours keeping me busy by doing these with me. I absolutely adore these books!

[@christianthorpe935]

I read that as "had an accent," which is probably why I sucked at these books as a kid. I hope your pops ended up OK.

[@Sophie-gn8jw]

I hope you're dad is doing well now, sending much love 🙏🏻💞♥️

[@starcherry6814]

People used to think I was dumb as a kid because I wouldn't circle in the items That's because I want to use the book again!! 😤

[@TeegMonkey]

People circled the items?!? Noooo I would never do that

[@effortcivilengineersinteri3784]

Me too

[@yudikurina1871]

wth I hope it was their book not someone elses

[@thesarahdilemma9752]

Star Cherry use tracing paper karen

[@DanteYewToob]

My sister used clear overhead projector pages, and drew on those and just kept them in the book, or in a folder along with it. She had them for I Spy, Wheres Waldo... and bunch others. She lived those kinds of books and enjoyed finding not just the stuff in the list, but some of the other cool hidden details. Dang. I miss that, I wonder if she still has them

[@lindsteele898]

Knowing someone built the sets just makes each book just that much more special

[@williehornung]

I was always *terrible* at I Spy books, but loved to stare at them anyway. They were so surreal and dreamy, like little dollhouse worlds. The one with the colanders, I remember specifically as being very entrancing. I’m glad for the opportunity to learn about the artist behind them!

[@Sadaaaaf]

SO YOURE THE INCREDIBLE MAN BEHIND MY CHILDHOOD HAPPINESS??? ILY

[@WhyTho-xq9qc]

Teacher: Anyone with money please head down to the bookfair *Me with 20$* He he, ispy time

[@lockheart619]

I'M CRYING 😖

[@joshuahawkes7218]

At my schools' book fair, we could get one free book. (parents pre-payed about $6)

[@cagedtigersteve]

@@joshuahawkes7218 I always hated the book fairs. Because they would only have like one cool book like the Baseball Almanac that some other kid would grab and I would be stuck having to get books like Little Women.

[@Aprildiamonds123]

My parents always only gave me 10 bucks, and it was never enough to buy a good book, so I bought a lot of those smelling pencils and fruity highlighters

[@WhyTho-xq9qc]

@@Aprildiamonds123 remember the chocolate calculators

[@klof361]

As a kid, I was enthralled by the puzzles on every page. Sometimes I sat for what felt like a lifetime looking for that one missing button. I have an even greater appreciation for those memories now knowing the meticulous effort that was put into each puzzle... Thank you Walter

[@elijahhamilton4097]

These books bring deep personal memories for me. The smell of my elementary school library comes to mind. It would be a cold snowy day in December in rural Pennsylvania and I’d be in my library for reading time just super captivated by these books, so much so that I remember the feeling to this day. Honestly it’s wild, an actual core memory of my childhood. I’m 21 now, about to go on my second deployment. I remember being 8 years old, wanting to one day be where I am, but now? It’s weird, I kind of just want to be 8 years old again, flipping through an I Spy book in my cozy library, on a snowy winters day.

[@samihahamzayeva9113]

wow men named walter sure are a huge part of my childhood huh

[@thatkid9970]

Walter white

[@Burn143]

True Walt Disney

[@bettiecrosby8042]

Remind me to name my future kid walter

[@Hhgforesjkloihn]

Fire trucks and monster trucks

[@don-wb2fl]

SaffronColt walter

[@kingofearls3752]

Whoever favored the haunted mansion ispy edition the most raise your hands

[@boffle539]

King Of Earls me!

[@trollreview5906]

I PLAYED THE VIDEOGAME TAKE THAT BUDDY

[@sirbiogaming3850]

palm tree man THAT VIDEO GAME WAS THE BEST GAME IN THE WORLD

[@trollreview5906]

@@sirbiogaming3850 yes

[@conorgarrett5893]

✋

[@itsabelle_arts]

Me: Welp time to go to sleep so I can get things done tomorrow- KZbin: WANNA KNOW HOW I SPY BOOKS ARE MADE Me: Me: Now I do.

[@evolvedturtleproductions7600]

The Weird Potato I don’t need sleep. I need answers.

[@moldycheese5454]

SAME. YES. it's 3:53 am exact rn

[@Inexpressable]

This is why there's a 'watch later' playlist. The only one preventing your sleep is yourself.

[@shervonri]

Inexpressable but let’s be honest how often do you go to your watch later

[@da3329]

@@evolvedturtleproductions7600 im telling that to my teachers when they ask why im late

[@blpanthers00]

Thank you, Walter Wick. You have helped me create some core memories with those books, and those will last well beyond the years of the loved ones I shared them with ❤️

[@drawitout]

This makes the books even more special now. I used to stare at the images long after I found everything, because it was fun to discover the many interesting items in each image. This is also a great promo for his new book (intended, I’m sure). I’m off to buy it now!

[@TXnine7nine]

The “I Spy” and “Where’s Waldo” books were some of my favorites growing up.

[@averagechapstick]

Where's Waldo is epic.

[@OldPCGamesGalore]

I love all of those books. They just bring me 90s childhood nostalgia! ❤️

[@themanwhowouldbebrick]

And spot what

[@magicknight13]

Mine too!!

[@frankienarcimous7830]

The librarians and teachers would always be like: “get a real book! That’s not a book.” Me as an 8 yo:?????

[@billylondon2894]

I mean... they were right

[@HowBoutUHandleDeezNutz]

Visual media will surpass written. Written won't go away, but...

[@ErkFX]

Leyla Purpus Me as an 8 yo: ”You’re a real book!” Me as a 26yo today: “You’re still real book!” I’ve changed so much!

[@mcgriddle552]

Exactly!!!

[@RonPaulRevolution500]

Me as an 8 yo: whateva I do what I want!

[@hawkwardwrx]

"did you know these were made with real items?" *literally everyone*: "yes"

[@Its_Just_Ibarra_here.302]

These books looked more real than 3D movies now days

[@alijade3211]

looking at his photographs gives me such peaceful yet intense nostalgia... almost forgot these books existed but i’m so glad i remembered!

[@virgomoons]

Same with me, the Halloween I spy really brought back the memories cause that was my favorite one out of all of them

[@andreawest2194]

Respect For Making and Creating those books loved them growing up

[@flint-cut-stunner9196]

Andrea West i spy was a huge part in inspiring creativity those books where a necessity growin up😂

[@timothyflores7895]

Don't know why but the complexity of the images made me uncomfortable as a kid for some reason. I felt like I would get physically lost in the image

[@almondmilk4915]

Timothy Flores OCD?

[@andicarusfell8387]

Same!

[@durenwilson4849]

Me too it would almost make me feel sad in a sense, really hard to describe

[@michaelzheng3129]

Ahh yes. I think I know what your talking about. I used to have a online version and every single one of the puzzles felt so weird to look at. The fantasy was just so strange

[@Hi-bh8uv]

It would make my head hurt and I felt my eyes popping out

[@the1ultimatet1u49]

i remember as a kid i could get utterly lost in these worlds, like i wasnt even looking at it anymore, i was literally immersed in it while my dad read the things i was looking for. These were awesome

[@mai3794]

I remember these! My elementary school library had a bunch of these, and you could borrow it to begin with, but because they were SO popular and it would never be in the library, the library had to ban the borrowing of these books!

[@ryanmendoza6034]

Same exact thing happened at my elementary school

[@klof361]

Anyone remember searching for that one missing button, and then some kid would walk up and instantly find it😭😭😤

[@doodlebug7250]

That's how I feel with my mom whenever we play word puzzle games on our phone! We spend five minutes looking for one single word, and the other will lean over and be "Oh, it's so-and-so-word".

[@BiteSizedCrafter]

Lol yes.

[@nishhx_x]

And the thing is when they find one thing, they just don't stop. They go on a flow and find everything else too. ;-;

[@keruo4425]

The funny thing is...I was that kid!🤣

[@chaoticcatastrophes3754]

IKR

[@WilliamTheWatchful]

I never played the game... I just stared at the scenes, feeding my imagination with the most spectacular sceneries. That space station with the yellow-red-green salt shakers blasted my heart with nostalgia.

[@TangMermaid42]

I absolutely loved the I Spy books as a child and spent so much time happily discovering every detail of these incredible photos in my search for the hidden objects. I’m currently getting my degree in drawing and am so grateful to have been reminded of these amazing artworks at this stage of my life. Wick’s photography was an immense source of joy in my childhood and undoubtedly inspired me to become the artist I am today.

[@drewpictured]

They have a really iconic look and feel.

[@williamodonnell6610]

These scenes were so in depth that sometimes it would actually give me anxiety

[@saintkohle]

Same. I especially remember a few scenes from I Spy Spooky Night, Funhouse, and Mystery giving me a weird feeling of unease as a kid. I still loved the hell out of those books, though!

[@carolineneumann3523]

I get what u mean. When I was a kid and I would stare a little too hard at the pictures it was like I could get sucked in if that made sense. It felt realistic even tho it was a picture. I distinctly remember the Ghost in the Attic one made me feel like that

[@goop1233]

Yeah it would make me kinda uneasy

[@sophliberty]

i totally agree with you. it was exhilarating looking at his photos. i remember studying each element of the scene even after i had spied every hidden object.

[@dehydratedqueen3827]

the dentist i’d go to as a kid and still go to now has a few of these books. me and my mum would huddle around them trying to find the objects and admiring all the tiny details. it helped me relax when i was scared about seeing the dentist - i can’t believe how much of a role these books had in my childhood, the nostalgia i’m feeling right now is amazing.

[@danhussey6084]

Bro this is exactly what happened to me lol

[@e4_blitz785]

Same

[@andrec.fennell9255]

God theres something so specific about that exact style. Its uniquely I Spy and ONLY he can do it. That's absolutely amazing.

[@xYoungExodus]

These books were a huge part of my childhood, my mom and I would spend hours looking through all these books. Today I do the same with my kids and they seem to enjoy just as much as I used to. Thank you for everything you've done Walter, never stop doing what you're doing.

[@aliciakeller1758]

Omg I used to read these when I was a kid I always wondered how they were made 💗 thx insider

[@AkinduDasanayake]

"How are 'I Spy' books made?" is probably the biggest question I never knew I had

[@PotatoPatatoVonSpudsworth]

This man deserves a dedicated gallery in a major museum.

[@mynamewasunironicallyyuri973]

I was literally thinking about this all week. Nice try FBI man. I’ll see you at area 51

[@sewermilk3411]

Damn it.....

[@ppritzy]

ME TOO WTF i literally thought about it a few days ago

[@moon-shadow6239]

What do y'all mean ????? 🤨🤨🤨🤨🤨

[@valyouablecreationsstudio]

😂

[@dianag59]

y’all caught him

[@olisiac6529]

I really want to buy A Drop of Water and A Ray of Light to support him. He said he was scared of releasing them and I just hope those books received deserved attention. I hope further his career he isn’t scared to release other projects. I adore this man so much and not even because of what he creates, but in the couple of minutes that we got to know him, he seems like a genuine man. I love him, he’s a beautiful being.

[@floridakid7975]

buy them all! I am, and someday my kids will experience his magic, its not like it used to be

[@veronicahuffines7707]

My mom, a children's librarian, gave me A Drop of Water when I was taking fluid dynamics in collage. It is a great book!

[@cerealscerealscereals]

“what were they made of?” the nostalgia of millions of children ig

[@carsonm7292]

I spent untold hours with these spectacular books. My mother and I would try to solve them together. Seeing the images again really is a blast from the past. Revisiting them today as a hobbyist photographer leaves me in awe of Walter's professional chops. So much creativity and skill went into every single one.

[@Bumbly_Vee]

These books were so comfy. Something about the clutter of the pics always made me feel cozy. 😌

[@corey-bird3489]

I only hope my channel feels like an moving extension of these books.

[@coreyw5981]

Ha it hygge before it became trendy

[@daking8473]

Remember that one toy that was yellow and red that looked human would be in every book?

[@dumpling5]

Wasn't there like a little dog with it too?

[@poboypowder7567]

Jaxx 2456 yep, it’s on the hey seymore cover

[@bigguy1738]

That’s “Can you see what I see?”

[@meowdy3362]

The “little robot guy” as I always said.

[@marshmellowcream6364]

I swear I saw a bee in every page in one of the boojs!

[@reyrodriguez7154]

Never clicked a like button so fast. My childhood was based on reading as many books and this one counted

[@jomiar309]

These were some of my favorite books as a kid, and now my kids are looking through them. I'm grateful to Wick for the attention and detail he put into them!

[@kyanite1164]

I recognized so many of those images, it really brought back a sense of happiness I felt when I had those books in my hand as a little girl.

[@lefthandman3558]

They always give me this odd sense of calm but I can't describe the vibe they are

[@jRex918]

I remember there was this one picture in the Christmas book that i love. Its a picture of a little town on Christmas eve. The whole town is covered in snow and its night time. Nobody is outside. You can see santa claus and his reindeer in the sky. It was so beautiful. I just imagine that there are people in the houses, sleeping in a warm cozy home on a cold Christmas night. I imagine what it would be like for people to live in a small peaceful town like the one in the picture. Its great stuff. The picture felt like a weird dream.

[@avagrigaitis367]

These books are something I can smell vividly

[@clareskylar2276]

THIS IS THE COMMENT!!!!

[@ironninjapi3870]

YES SAME

[@zojirushi1]

Same

[@whatevs00]

ME TOO

[@FL0ra_favvn]

The innate sense of wonder and joy the sheer atmosphere of these photos evokes is a feeling that cannot be described by words .... ❤

[@lemonworm]

i always got such a strange lonely empty liminal feel from these books, like the world was filled with so many material objects but nobody occupying it. Loved that feeling though

[@evasmojang]

they always felt so eerie

[@L00PdeL00P]

I still get entranced looking at these things. Like not even looking for a specific thing just like “oOoOoooh” “uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh*

[@jordanguay]

The “Balloon Popper” at 2:21 was my favourite set. Used to love retracing the steps with a finger of how that obstacle course eventually led to the balloon being popped.

[@tiredatm]

I was literally just about to comment the exact same thing! I spent so much time looking at it, oh my god

[@elsabiomac5938]

For me, its the most iconic I Spy page

[@averagechapstick]

Yes

[@JustaLostSoul]

Dude, you just unleashed so many memories of me doing the same thing

[@elainad6728]

Omg I loved this one!!!

[@allisonwltn84]

This video just came across in my feed and I cannot express my excitement when hearing from Walter Wick! My favorite childhood book in the 3rd grade was "A Drop of Water: By Walter Wick". I didn't read a lot, but this is the one book that I literally waited outside the library for to check it out. I would wait by the door and after several weeks of perpetually renting out the book my mom bought it for me! I still have it to this day, and I am beyond thrilled to learn that there is a sequel about light (since the rainbow through the waterglass was my favorite page). Thank you for adding magic to my childhood!

[@Anonymous-ji3ud]

Idk why but these books always left me with a strange creeped out feeling

[@juserrr]

Omg yes but thats why I liked it so much as a kid

[@jaceyasf4576]

it really creeped me out but i was so competitive that i wanted to find the things it told me too. basically i was driving my self insane in kindergarten lmao

[@DarkestDeeds]

Yes! I always was like, "Why were all these things abandoned here? Where is the child?" And the rooms always seemed abandoned somehow.

[@madmaks1980]

Haha, I thought I was the only one!

[@megmagica]

100% can relate and idek why

[@johnnyp1986]

Dang I remember in school my friends and I would sit around one of those I Spy books and just look for the objects 😌 I remember once during library time, two of my friends were having trouble finding an object and they called me to help and I brought two more friends as reinforcements 😂 ahhh good times

[@Kt-cn2rq]

Lol that's funny. I need see find some for my kids. Get them away from the TV. They love books like that now there Micky mouse and hello Kitty style like those. Even got a where's Waldo (Wally) book makes them look harder 😅

[@toasty2474]

👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@erinelizabeth8180]

Johnny P love that too much

[@imjakepaul4497]

Johnny P sane

[@imjakepaul4497]

Same

[@anyu]

These photos always sucked me in as a child. Thank you, Walter!

[@shua3146]

This video brought back so many memories I never thought I had.

[@shua3146]

@Jazmin Munoz I hope great things go your way eventually. Keep holding on kind stranger.

[@shua3146]

@Jazmin Munoz No problem, I can only imagine how hard it is but overcoming it will surely be worth it. Carry on.