Can You See What I See? The Night Before Christmas: Picture Puzzles to Search and Solve

Can You See What I See?

by Walter Wick

Scenes from Clement Moore's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas inspire twelve elegant and fascinating compositions where readers search for dozens of intriguing hidden objects. The first photograph, "The Night Before Christmas," features a gingerbread house, Christmas cookies, candles, bulbs, and more. "Visions of Sugarplums" is an abstract composition of Christmas confections; and "Such a Clatter!" is a dynamic explosion of objects. In "It Must Be Saint Nick," Santa is shown in shadow; and in "A Bundle of Toys," the presents in Santa's sack are revealed as a magnificent jumble. The final photograph, "Happy Christmas to All" is a beautiful, pastoral landscape, lustrous under new-fallen snow. The original poem is printed on the endpapers. Can You See What

Genres: Christmas, Picture Books, Childrens, Holiday, Nonfiction, Kids

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2005

About the author

Walter Wick is an American artist and photographer best known for the elaborate images in two series of picture book activities for young children, I Spy and Can You See What I See?, both published by Scholastic.

Reviews

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Everything good about original I Spy with no added sugar. "

[Laura (Book Scrounger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was chosen for Day 4 of my "25 Days of Christmas Books" blog series. Review here: https://www.theproblemsite.com/book-s...-

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that this follows the classic tale. I wish it followed it a little bit more in the images and the progression from page to page and some items were reused in multiple pages as well. But overall fun for the holidays and it got magical toward the end. The Scary Scary Night is still my personal favourite.

[Jeani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great! Pretty challenging for us. Kinda wish there was an answer page.

[Lacey Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good finding game. My brother and I had all of these

[Amynicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moderate to difficult, but enjoyable, for littler ones.

[Kayla Zabcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

fabulous, atmospheric, a banger as usual

[Kristin Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My preschoolers had so much fun with this book!

[Jerry]

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[M.M. Hudson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes the traditional telling of "The Night Before Christmas" and breaks it into pages of fun-filled toys and games to look for. The objects on each page are cleverly arranged so that the reader has to go on a "hunt" of sorts. This is no surprise if you have read any other "I Spy" books.

The photographs are clear and concise. Each page has large photographs with traditional Christmas colors in the background. I had a bit of a hard time finding items but the fun of this book is looking at it over and over. The pages are two spread with one giving clues as to what to look for.

Finally, the end pages have the story of the "Night Before Christmas" which to me is a nice touch.
The weirdest thing I found about this book is that some pages are upside down until I got about half way through the book. I am not sure if this was intentional or accidental, either way, it makes the book that much more fun!

Oh, and one more thing, this book is from Scholastic books, so I can be reassured it is worth children to look at and read.

5 Stars!

Disclosure: I purchased a copy of this book for my own collections. The views expressed here are 100% my own and may not reflect yours. ~Naila Moon

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

Walter Wick, illustrator of the popular I Spy books, has created another visually complex and highly entertaining title in his Can You See What I See? series. Readers of all ages will eagerly scrutinize every inch of the extremely detailed and well-crafted two-page spreads, each of which depicts a pivotal moment in a well-known fairy tale, to find the items listed in the rhyming text. Every layout has the feel of one of Wick’s Games magazine photographic puzzles.Readers will snatch this book up as soon as it hits the shelves. Include this title in curriculum units on fairy tales and watch students’ eyes light up with delight as they make connections between the fairy tale genre and the items pictured.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the titles in the hardest to solve of Wick's seek and find series. Rhyming text reads like a bulleted list of item to search for, this time without any picture clues to aid readers.

An author's note discusses the author's creative process of adapting the time-honored poem "The Night Before Christmas." Grades 3-5.

[Tammy King Carlton · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know Rebekah, you know she really loves "I Spy" books, and this one had a Christmas theme - we looked through it EVERY NIGHT this past December, on the floor in front of the Christmas tree with hot cocoa in hand. It was so much fun!

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

it is what it is...an i spy book...but i thought this one was quite challenging in relation to others seen. Of course, it is holiday-themed as the title implies including lots of toys and candies/cookies.

[Taylor Troncin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this book for my son and it turned out to be far more challenging that what I had expected. This book received 2/5 instead of 1/5 though because had I been more informed I think I would have enjoyed the book more. (Maybe this coming winter I will give the book another try!)

[Mindi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is WONDERFUL. It is hard for me to find everything. This book keeps Lexi and I busy for hours.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much FUN!

[Grosso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This look and find book is not easy. It requires that the kids really think about the clues and search hard. They spend lots of time looking at it.

[Heidi Larew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am reading this with my son and of course I am so proud of him. He can always find the treasures!

[August Maclauchlan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My boys (5 & 3) and my hubby and I love this book! Brings us all together!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 'search to find the items' book hidden in beautiful illustrations. A wonderful way to spend some Christmas time cuddled up with this book.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

More fun with someone else...What a great way to spend quality time with the family! My husband and I sat listening to Christmas music and tried several of these puzzles :o)

[Kelly Delaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

hard to find items, kept me and the kids busy!

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't remember these books being this hard. lol I need a magnifying glass! My kids are better at finding the hidden items.

[Ninette · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great thing to do by the light of the Christmas tree in the liminal space between Christmas and New Years. Very cozy. Highly recommend. Might become a tradition.

[Machim]

Children's Books

[Marcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

#159 Picture Puzzles to Search and Solve.