I Spy A to Z: A Book of Picture Riddles (I Spy)

K-Gr 2A comparison of this book to earlier I Spy publications shows that virtually every illustration in it appeared in those titles. One redeeming quality is the new text and a nod to phonics. An introduction for parents and teachers includes suggestions on how to use the book to help children learn to read. Marzollos familiar rhymes feature consistent phonetic sounds for letters that have more than one. For example, the c page colors in red only the instances in which c sounds like a k. The hidden items in the colorful photos, full of kid-friendly objects, are easy to locate. This is for a slightly younger audience than the previous books in the series, but those children might be better served by Roxie Munros "Mazeways" (Sterling, 2007)."Debbie Whitbeck, West Ottawa Public Schools, Holland, MI" Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.