<PAGE>   1

                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             INTERVISUAL BOOKS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)


          CALIFORNIA                                            92-2929217
-------------------------------                             -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                             Identification No.)


                     2716 OCEAN PARK BLVD., STE. 2020 90405
                       SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (ZIP CODE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)


                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)


                                  Waldo H. Hunt
                             Chief Executive Officer
                             Intervisual Books, Inc.
                        2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Ste. 2020
                         Santa Monica, California 90405
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)


                                 (310) 396-8708
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                 Please address a copy of all communications to:

                             Stephen D. Cooke, Esq.
                      Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                        695 Town Center Drive, 17th Floor
                          Costa Mesa, California 92626
                            Telephone: (714) 668-6200

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of                                           Proposed              Proposed
Securities                   Amount                 Maximum               Maximum              Amount of
to be                         to be              Offering Price          Aggregate           Registration
Registered                 Registered(1)          Per Share(2)         Offering Price            Fee
----------                 -------------         --------------        --------------        ------------
<S>                          <C>                     <C>                  <C>                   <C>
Common Stock, no par          500,000                 $1.88                $ 940,000             $249.00
value per share
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

------------------
(1)   This Registration Statement covers, in addition to such number of shares
      issuable upon exercise of the options granted under the plan, an
      indeterminate number of additional shares which may become subject to
      options as a result of the adjustment provisions of the plan. The
      registration fee is calculated only on the stated number of shares.

(2)   Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h)(1), based on the last sale
      price ($1.88 per share) of Registrant's common stock on The Nasdaq Small
      Cap Market on April 11, 2000.

================================================================================

<PAGE>   2

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION*

ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION*

*  Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
   prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance with
   Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

        (a) The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");

        (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Registrant's annual
report referred to in (a) above;

        (c) The description of the Registrant's common stock, no par value,
which is contained in its Form 8-A filed on May 26, 1992 under the Exchange Act,
including any amendments filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

        (d) All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

        Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

        Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

        Sections 204 and 317 of the California Corporations Code (the "Code")
contain provisions concerning the Registrant's ability to indemnify its agents
(including directors and officers) from certain liabilities and expenses
incurred as a result of any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that such
person is or was an agent of the Registrant. The Registrant has


                                       2

<PAGE>   3

adopted provisions in its Restated Articles of Incorporation which eliminate the
personal liability of a director from monetary damages to the fullest extent
permissible under the Code and which authorize the Registrant to provide
indemnification of its agents. The Registrant's Bylaws provide indemnification
to its agents to the maximum extent permitted by the Code. The Registrant has
also entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain key
officers.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

        Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

        The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are as
follows:

  Exhibit
  Number                            Description of Exhibit
  -------                           ----------------------

    4.1     1999 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40
            to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 1999.)

    5       Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

   23.1     Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP

   23.2     Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (contained in
            Exhibit 5)

   24       Power of Attorney (contained on Signature Page of Registration
            Statement)

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

        (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                       the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                       after the effective date of this Registration Statement
                       (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                       which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                       fundamental change in the information set forth in this
                       Registration Statement;

                (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
                       plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
                       Registration Statement or any material change to such
                       information in this Registration Statement;

                provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs
                (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information
                required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
                paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
                Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
                reference in this Registration Statement.


                                       3


<PAGE>   4

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                       4

<PAGE>   5

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Santa Monica, State of California, on this 13th day
of April, 2000.

                                           INTERVISUAL BOOKS, INC.


                                           By: /s/ Waldo Hunt
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Waldo H. Hunt
                                               Chairman of the Board
                                               and Chief Executive Officer


                                       5

<PAGE>   6

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Nathan N. Sheinman and Dan P. Reavis, jointly and
severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution for him
or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with the exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.


/s/ Waldo H. Hunt                                                 April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Waldo H. Hunt, Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer, Director
 (Principal Executive Officer)


/s/ Nathan N. Sheinman                                            April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Nathan N. Sheinman, President,
Chief Operating Officer, Director


/s/ Dan P. Reavis                                                 April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Dan P. Reavis, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Director
(Principal Financial Officer)


/s/ Steven D. Ades                                                April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Steven D. Ades, President of the Video
and New Media Division, Director


/s/ Gail A. Thornhill                                             April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Gail A. Thornhill, Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)


/s/ Neil G. Berkman                                               April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Neil G. Berkman
Director


/s/ Gordon Hearne                                                 April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Gordon Hearne
Director


/s/ Leonard W. Jaffe                                              April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Leonard W. Jaffe
Director


/s/ John J. McNaughton                                            April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
John J. McNaughton
Director


                                       6

<PAGE>   7

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit
  Number                               Description
  -------                              -----------

    4.1         1999 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.40 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.)

    5           Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

    23.1        Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP

    23.2        Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (contained in
                Exhibit 5)

    24          Power of Attorney (contained on Signature Page of Registration
                Statement)
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 15789}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "INTERVISUAL BOOKS INC /CA", "cik": "0000879813", "assigned-sic": "2731", "irs-number": "922929217", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-34832", "film-number": "602163"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2716 OCEAN PARK BLVD", "street2": "SUITE 2020", "city": "SANTA MONICA", "state": "CA", "zip": "90405", "phone": "3103968708"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2716 OCEAN PARK BLVD SUITE 2020", "city": "SANTA MONICA", "state": "CA", "zip": "90405"}}
1

                                                 Registration No. 333-__________
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8

             REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                             INTERVISUAL BOOKS, INC.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

          CALIFORNIA                                            92-2929217
-------------------------------                             -------------------
(State or Other Jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. Employer
 Incorporation or Organization)                             Identification No.)

                     2716 OCEAN PARK BLVD., STE. 2020 90405
                       SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA (ZIP CODE)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                             1999 STOCK OPTION PLAN
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            (Full Title of the Plan)

                                  Waldo H. Hunt
                             Chief Executive Officer
                             Intervisual Books, Inc.
                        2716 Ocean Park Blvd., Ste. 2020
                         Santa Monica, California 90405
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and Address of Agent for Service)

                                 (310) 396-8708
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)

                 Please address a copy of all communications to:

                             Stephen D. Cooke, Esq.
                      Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
                        695 Town Center Drive, 17th Floor
                          Costa Mesa, California 92626
                            Telephone: (714) 668-6200

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title of                                           Proposed              Proposed
Securities                   Amount                 Maximum               Maximum              Amount of
to be                         to be              Offering Price          Aggregate           Registration
Registered                 Registered(1)          Per Share(2)         Offering Price            Fee
----------                 -------------         --------------        --------------        ------------
Common Stock, no par          500,000                 $1.88                $ 940,000             $249.00
value per share
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------
(1)   This Registration Statement covers, in addition to such number of shares
      issuable upon exercise of the options granted under the plan, an
      indeterminate number of additional shares which may become subject to
      options as a result of the adjustment provisions of the plan. The
      registration fee is calculated only on the stated number of shares.

(2)   Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and 457(h)(1), based on the last sale
      price ($1.88 per share) of Registrant's common stock on The Nasdaq Small
      Cap Market on April 11, 2000.

================================================================================
2

                                     PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

ITEM 1. PLAN INFORMATION*

ITEM 2. REGISTRANT INFORMATION AND EMPLOYEE PLAN ANNUAL INFORMATION*

*  Information required by Part I to be contained in the Section 10(a)
   prospectus is omitted from the Registration Statement in accordance with
   Rule 428 under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Note to Part I of Form S-8.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

        The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:

        (a) The Registrant's annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1999 filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act");

        (b) All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Registrant's annual
report referred to in (a) above;

        (c) The description of the Registrant's common stock, no par value,
which is contained in its Form 8-A filed on May 26, 1992 under the Exchange Act,
including any amendments filed for the purpose of updating such description; and

        (d) All documents subsequently filed with the Commission by the
Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act
prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement
which indicates that all securities offered have been sold or which deregisters
all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof from the date
of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES

        Not applicable.

ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

        Not applicable.

ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

        Sections 204 and 317 of the California Corporations Code (the "Code")
contain provisions concerning the Registrant's ability to indemnify its agents
(including directors and officers) from certain liabilities and expenses
incurred as a result of any proceeding arising by reason of the fact that such
person is or was an agent of the Registrant. The Registrant has

                                       2
3

adopted provisions in its Restated Articles of Incorporation which eliminate the
personal liability of a director from monetary damages to the fullest extent
permissible under the Code and which authorize the Registrant to provide
indemnification of its agents. The Registrant's Bylaws provide indemnification
to its agents to the maximum extent permitted by the Code. The Registrant has
also entered into indemnification agreements with its directors and certain key
officers.

ITEM 7. EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED

        Not applicable.

ITEM 8. EXHIBITS

        The exhibits filed as part of this Registration Statement are as
follows:

  Exhibit
  Number                            Description of Exhibit
  -------                           ----------------------

    4.1     1999 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40
            to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
            ended December 31, 1999.)

    5       Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

   23.1     Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP

   23.2     Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (contained in
            Exhibit 5)

   24       Power of Attorney (contained on Signature Page of Registration
            Statement)

ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS

        (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

            (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

                (i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                       the Securities Act of 1933;

                (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                       after the effective date of this Registration Statement
                       (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                       which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                       fundamental change in the information set forth in this
                       Registration Statement;

                (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
                       plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this
                       Registration Statement or any material change to such
                       information in this Registration Statement;

                provided, however, that the undertakings set forth in paragraphs
                (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) above do not apply if the information
                required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
                paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
                Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by
                reference in this Registration Statement.

                                       3
4

            (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

            (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.

        (b) The Registrant hereby undertakes that, for the purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

        (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise,
the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and
Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed
in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                       4
5

                                   SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Santa Monica, State of California, on this 13th day
of April, 2000.

                                           INTERVISUAL BOOKS, INC.

                                           By: /s/ Waldo Hunt
                                               ---------------------------------
                                               Waldo H. Hunt
                                               Chairman of the Board
                                               and Chief Executive Officer

                                       5
6

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Nathan N. Sheinman and Dan P. Reavis, jointly and
severally, his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with power of substitution for him
or her in any and all capacities, to sign any amendments to this Registration
Statement, and to file the same, with the exhibits thereto, and other documents
in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission hereby
ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her
substitute or substitutes, may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ Waldo H. Hunt                                                 April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Waldo H. Hunt, Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer, Director
 (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Nathan N. Sheinman                                            April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Nathan N. Sheinman, President,
Chief Operating Officer, Director

/s/ Dan P. Reavis                                                 April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Dan P. Reavis, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Director
(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Steven D. Ades                                                April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Steven D. Ades, President of the Video
and New Media Division, Director

/s/ Gail A. Thornhill                                             April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Gail A. Thornhill, Controller
(Principal Accounting Officer)

/s/ Neil G. Berkman                                               April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Neil G. Berkman
Director

/s/ Gordon Hearne                                                 April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Gordon Hearne
Director

/s/ Leonard W. Jaffe                                              April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
Leonard W. Jaffe
Director

/s/ John J. McNaughton                                            April 13, 2000
----------------------------------------
John J. McNaughton
Director

                                       6
7

                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

  Exhibit
  Number                               Description
  -------                              -----------

    4.1         1999 Stock Option Plan (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                10.40 to the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                fiscal year ended December 31, 1999.)

    5           Opinion of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

    23.1        Consent of BDO Seidman, LLP

    23.2        Consent of Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (contained in
                Exhibit 5)

    24          Power of Attorney (contained on Signature Page of Registration
                Statement)