Book Review: My Tricky Eye Spy

Children are often taught 'don’t talk to strangers', but in reality, that message can be confusing. Most strangers are kind, and many familiar people are safe and supportive. The challenge for children is not simply identifying strangers, it's recognising behaviour that doesn’t feel right.

My Tricky Eye Spy helps bridge that gap in a way young children can actually understand. Through rhyme, repetition and a playful detective-style approach, it introduces the idea of 'Tricksters', people whose behaviour might be unsafe, even if they seem friendly on the outside.

Rather than creating fear, the story builds awareness. It gently teaches children to notice behaviour, listen to their instincts (body clues) and most importantly, check in with a trusted adult before going anywhere, accepting anything or engaging in situations that feel uncertain.

The use of rhythm and repetition is particularly effective for young children. Phrases like 'I’m ready to spy with my tricky eye' are easy to remember, which means the safety message is more likely to stay with them in everyday situations. It also creates a shared language between adults and children, making it easier to revisit and reinforce the conversation over time.

What makes this book valuable is that it doesn’t just focus on risk, it focuses on awareness and decision-making. It helps children understand that they are allowed to pause, question and seek help. These are not just safety skills, they are confidence-building skills that support a child’s sense of agency.

For parents, carers, and educators, the book becomes a simple entry point into ongoing conversations about safety in the real world. It opens the door to discussions about intuition, trusted adults and what to do when something doesn’t feel quite right. Because child safety is not about teaching children to be afraid of the world. It is about teaching them to move through it with awareness, confidence and support.

My Tricky Eye Spy

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About Kayelene Kerr & eSafeKids

eSafeKids is a social enterprise founded by Kayelene Kerr. Kayelene is recognised as one of Australia’s most experienced specialist providers of Protective Behaviours, Body Safety, Cyber Safety, Digital Wellness and Pornography Literacy education workshops. Kayelene has featured on Australian and international television broadcasts, radio programs and in print media.​

eSafeKids books can support educators teaching protective behaviours and child abuse prevention education that aligns with the Western Australian Curriculum, Australian Curriculum, Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) and National Quality Framework: National Quality Standards (NQS).