Charles Warrell facts for kids

Charles Warrell (born 1889, died 1995) was an English schoolteacher. He created the famous I-Spy books. These books were like special guides for British children. They helped kids spot interesting things around them. When he made and published these books, he was known as Big Chief I-Spy.

The Creator of I-Spy Books

Early Life and Teaching

Charles Warrell was born in Farmborough, Somerset, in 1889. He trained to be a teacher at Culham College. Later, he became a headteacher. He worked at Higher Wych School in Cheshire. In the 1940s, he taught at Pleasley Hill School in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

Warrell believed in active learning. This means learning by doing things, not just reading. Towards the end of his teaching career in 1948, he came up with the idea for the I-Spy books. He wanted to keep children busy and interested. Especially on long car trips. He also wanted them to notice more about the world around them.

The I-Spy Book Adventure

When Charles Warrell first tried to publish his books, eight different companies said no. So, he decided to publish them himself! He knew someone who bought books for the local Woolworths store. This helped him get his books sold there.

The books were first called Learning from Life. But his wife, Marian, suggested changing the name. So, they became the I-Spy books. Each book focused on a different topic. There were books like I-SPY Cars and I-SPY Churches. There was even I-SPY on a Train Journey.

How the I-Spy Game Worked

Children would use the books to spot things. For example, in I-SPY Cars, they would look for different car models. When they spotted something, they would record it in their book. They earned points for each item. More points were given for things that were harder to find.

Once a child finished a book, they could send it to Warrell. He was known as Big Chief I-SPY. His address was "Wigwam-by-the-Water, EC4". In return, children would get a special feather. They would also join the "Order of Merit". The children who played the game were called The I-SPY Tribe.

The Huge Success of I-Spy

The I-Spy books quickly became very popular. The Daily Mail newspaper started publishing them. Then the News Chronicle did too. Charles Warrell even had a column in the newspaper. He would mention the names of children who completed their books.

By 1953, The I-SPY Tribe had half a million members! It was also a club that held events. These events were called "pow-wows". Thousands of children would attend. Charles Warrell would often wear a giant Indian head-dress. One event in London had 8,000 children. They went on sightseeing tours using 80 double-decker buses.

When Warrell retired in 1956, 18 million copies of his books had been sold. The books stayed popular for many years. Different publishers took them on. In 1991, Michelin Travel Publications started publishing them. The original series sold a total of 25 million copies worldwide.

Later Years

After retiring, Charles Warrell and his wife settled in Budleigh Salterton, Devon. He continued to be very active. Even at 93 years old, he was still writing articles for magazines. When he was 104, he was still calling friends to talk about new ideas in education.

Charles Warrell passed away in 1995. He was in a nursing home in Matlock, Derbyshire. The staff there knew him as Big Chief. He left behind two daughters from his first marriage.