I Spy Colors in Art »

Lucy Micklethwait says, "I began to play 'I Spy' with paintings with my own children when they were very young. Over and over again my children pointed out things which I had never noticed before—an apple that had fallen to the floor, a funny-shaped shoe, an expression on a face. Although we were simply 'looking at pictures,' I was well aware that, by making these paintings accessible, I was enabling my children to build up a store of images in their own minds which must inevitably lead to some interest in fine art." Ms. Micklethwait's books for children include I Spy Shapes in Art; I Spy: An Alphabet in Art; I Spy Two Eyes: Numbers in Art.

I spy with my little eye . . . a yellow circle, an orange orange, two blue eyes staring right back at me!

The whole family will delight in exploring fine art through these fourteen glorious paintings, ranging from ancient to contemporary, their artists hailing from all around the globe. Each time you look at one of the colorful canvases in this book—or in a museum—you're sure to discover another delightful and surprising detail.

What a wonderful way to foster a love of art in the youngest of children and to instill an appreciation for close observation and attention to detail.

What do you spy?

Children's Literature

I spy with my little eye a white moon, a brown cow, and a green elephant. What can you see? Micklethwait's newest addition to her "I Spy" art series delivers more beautifully reproduced paintings from a variety of genres, time periods, and cultures. From a fifteenth century French book illustration to an enigmatic Rene Magritte painting, the art selections provide a visual feast that will prompt hours of looking. The author's text invites young readers to search for colors in the paintings by focusing on familiar objects—socks, spoons, shapes, keys—but in the search for these objects, children will find even more interesting details. In an introductory note, Micklethwait explains how she first played these "I Spy" games with her own children and found that the game was a fun and easy introduction to great works of art. Now grown, her children helped select the works featured in this book. This is an excellent take-along for a trip to the local art museum and can be used to inspire children to look closely at art. Reviewer: Leah Hanson