Spyology

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katsmom
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Spyology

#1 Post by katsmom » Sat Nov 15, 2008 1:34 pm

For all those parents with bothersome kids! I just bought this book for Katherine. Whenever I play with a puzzle she rolls her eyes at me and complains. So I got this one for her, and now she is trying to work on ciphers and work out a codex. (It has done wonders for attempting the surrealism crossword in peace. Not that I've worked it out yet)

Spyology
Dugal Steer
ISBN:9781840118612

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SparkOut
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Re: Spyology

#2 Post by SparkOut » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:25 am

I just remembered to find this post and comment:

Thank you, Katsmom!

We looked at this for putting on Monkey's Christmas list, and at the time we thought, "hmm that's quite a lot of money for 15 pages :roll:" but we decided that we'd put on the list anyway.

Santa duly arrived, and WOW is it "not just 15 pages". Every page is packed full of lots of snippets of info, flaps to lift, envelopes of little pictures, "newspaper clippings", secret messages, with a fancy codewheel set into the cover that you can use as a "microdot viewer" too. Enough to keep him busy for ages and ages, just exploring the contents, let alone actually solving any of the codes/messages/mysteries. It's brilliant!

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giraffe
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Re: Spyology

#3 Post by giraffe » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:35 am

Am I right in thinking Monkey is about 10?

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SparkOut
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Re: Spyology

#4 Post by SparkOut » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:04 am

He'll be 10 in September.

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fernando
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Re: Spyology

#5 Post by fernando » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:05 pm

SparkOut wrote:I just remembered to find this post and comment:

Thank you, Katsmom!

We looked at this for putting on Monkey's Christmas list, and at the time we thought, "hmm that's quite a lot of money for 15 pages :roll:" but we decided that we'd put on the list anyway.

Santa duly arrived, and WOW is it "not just 15 pages". Every page is packed full of lots of snippets of info, flaps to lift, envelopes of little pictures, "newspaper clippings", secret messages, with a fancy codewheel set into the cover that you can use as a "microdot viewer" too. Enough to keep him busy for ages and ages, just exploring the contents, let alone actually solving any of the codes/messages/mysteries. It's brilliant!
I think mum (giraffe) tried this technique with me and kingsley but instead of getting us into hi tech books, she got us the runes and puzzlebrains instead. :)

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SparkOut
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Re: Spyology

#6 Post by SparkOut » Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:10 pm

:lol: I didn't actually mean as a shutter-upper! It's really fun! (In fact, he's actually more interrupty-worthy with it - "Dad, dad! Look at this! And there's all this stuff in the pocket here! and..." you get the idea.)

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Re: Spyology

#7 Post by strep98 » Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:39 pm

Oh why can't I have puzzle interested kids to share all this exciting stuff with. Do you think I could get away with buyng it for myself :?:
I don't have hot flushes. I have short holidays in the Tropics.
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SparkOut
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Re: Spyology

#8 Post by SparkOut » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:25 pm

Well... it's hard to say I'd recommend it for an adult, but if you did happen to get it and open it "for yourself" you might just find that the kids become interested - maybe a reverse psychology approach would work.

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LAT
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Re: Spyology

#9 Post by LAT » Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:49 pm

And my kids are beyond that now and just look down their noses at me and my attempts at puzzle solving :(

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Re: Spyology

#10 Post by Bunnylump » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:29 pm

Mine too. Mind you they think I'm sad and have no life. They'd probably be right there!! I think the book sounds great. Shame I don't have a 10 year old to buy one for!!
You're only given a little spark of madness. You mustn't lose it.

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Re: Spyology

#11 Post by BassBloke » Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:37 pm

I have just ordered Spyology from Amazon.

I notice the same authors do stuff like Monsterology, Mythology, Dragonology, Wizardology, Pirateology etcetcetcetcetc.

This seems like enough to keep my 11 year old lad (and me) busy for years. :D :D

Thanks for the lead everyone.

Cheers. BB.
Durin' "Africa", I Are Mostly Bin Playin' - "Nile be watching you".

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katsmom
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Re: Spyology

#12 Post by katsmom » Fri Jan 09, 2009 1:14 am

I came across one of the -Ology books when they first came out and have been buying them ever since. Value for money I think.
I'm glad your son liked it!

Katherine loves to play with those books. The reading level is a bit high for her, but they do keep her going for hours and the envelopes haven't become boring yet!

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Re: Spyology

#13 Post by strep98 » Fri Jan 09, 2009 8:41 am

Glad I'm not the only one who is class as not "having a life". my lot groan when I get the puzzles out and run incase I ask them "stupid questions".

Off to order spyology.
I don't have hot flushes. I have short holidays in the Tropics.
Women are Angels And when someone breaks our wings We simply continue to flyon a broomstick We are flexible like that.
A pesimist is only an optimist who knows more

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maisie ladybird
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Re: Spyology

#14 Post by maisie ladybird » Fri Jan 09, 2009 7:43 pm

There's a bookshop round here 'The Works', that was selling the 'ology' books for under £5 before Christmas. I bought my 10 year old the pirate one and he loves it, there's just so much to do and look at.

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strep98
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Re: Spyology

#15 Post by strep98 » Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:40 pm

We have a The Works" might try there before Amazon
I don't have hot flushes. I have short holidays in the Tropics.
Women are Angels And when someone breaks our wings We simply continue to flyon a broomstick We are flexible like that.
A pesimist is only an optimist who knows more

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MBH
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Re: Spyology

#16 Post by MBH » Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:51 am

strep98 wrote:Off to order spyology.
Go for it :) I've just got Wizardology out of the library - great fun. They LOOK so good as well.

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LAT
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Re: Spyology

#17 Post by LAT » Sat Jan 10, 2009 10:53 am

Anybody want to lend me a ten-year old?

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Re: Spyology

#18 Post by gill216 » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:10 am

Everyone who has one I'd imagine ;)
"If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." -Carl Sagan

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LAT
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Re: Spyology

#19 Post by LAT » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:13 am

I'd swap for a 19 year old :D

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maisie ladybird
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Re: Spyology

#20 Post by maisie ladybird » Sat Jan 10, 2009 11:14 am

LAT wrote:Anybody want to lend me a ten-year old?
You can have mine, and the other three that go with him!

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