Spot's First Walk [Mass Market Paperback]

Eric Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1994 | Age Level: 2 and up | Series: Spot

Small children follow the curious little Spot on his first walk through the neighborhood all by himself, in a brightly illustrated lift-the-flap book. Reprint. K.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eric Hill was born in North London in 1927 and, apart from a brief period of evacuation, lived there for many years. His career as an artist began when he was employed as a messenger in an art studio and was encouraged to draw. Eric's son was born in 1976 and he began to write stories about a puppy to read to him at bedtime, and so Spot was born. The family moved to California in 1983 but Eric continues to visit the UK several times a year and is very involved in developing Spot projects. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 2 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 20 pages
• Publisher: Puffin (February 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140507256
• ISBN-13: 978-0140507256
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,128,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Eric Hill is the creator of Spot, the world's favorite puppy', who appeared in his first story, Where's Spot? in 1980 and quickly became one of the best-loved pre-school characters of all time. Today Spot's adventures remain incredibly popular and are enjoyed the world over.
Eric was born on September 7, 1927 in London, and educated at Pooles Park Elementary and Tollington Park Central schools until the outbreak of World War II. At 16 he joined an art studio as a messenger, where he was encouraged to draw cartoons in his spare time. He particularly enjoyed drawing aircraft, and it was the markings of planes that later came to influence the design of Spot, reflected in the spots on his body and the tip of his tail.
In 1976 Eric's son Christopher was born; by the time he was two Eric was making up stories about the adventures of a small puppy to read to him at bedtime and Spot was born!
The design of the books was inspired by an advertising flyer Eric had devised involving a flap covering an amusing picture. When Eric showed this to Christopher he saw how responsive he was to the idea and incorporated it into his book. Although initially created just as a story to please his son, Where's Spot? was actually published as a children's book in 1980 and started a new publishing concept of interactive books for babies'. The innovative lift-the-flap concept, combined with the simple story and quirky, charming illustrations, helped Where's Spot? become an instant hit with young children and within weeks it was at the top of the UK best-seller list.
The playful puppy soon became hugely popular and a series of adventures followed, including the introduction of Spot's friends and family. Spot expanded from the original lift-the-flap books to interactive storybooks, sound books and audio books. There are currently eight series of Spot animation available on DVD and these have been broadcast and sold on video and DVD all over the world.
Spot's own website funwithspot.com was launched in 2000 to coincide with Spot's 20th anniversary. Incorporating fun and learning it has helped thousands of young children develop their on-line skills through interactive games and activities. The site receives 10 million hits and 70,000 unique visitors per month.
As well as his son Christopher, Eric also has a daughter, Jane, who works very closely with her father on many Spot projects. Eric remains involved in the development of all Spot projects at every stage. He and his wife Gillian divide their time between California and France with a varied collection of animals which provide continual inspiration for the Spot stories.
Eric was one of the 'literary ambassadors' invited to The Children's Party at the Palace to commemorate The Queen's 80th birthday at Buckingham Palace in June 2006. This highlight of Eric's career was followed with the award of an O.B.E. for services to children's literature in the 2008 New Year's Honors List.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Great Adventure for Spot, May 6, 2005

By 

M. Allen Greenbaum (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Spot's First Walk (Hardcover)

Eric Hill's 1981 `Spot' book by Eric Hill contains his signature large black font; big, bright pictures; and look-under-the flap surprises so prevalent in this series. These elements, along with some adventure, humor, and the loveable yellow Spot make this an appealing book for young audiences and beginning readers.

After his mom, Sally, warns Spot to watch out on his journey, Spot's first walk results in surprises (often hidden under the flaps), mildly dangerous situations (a cat snarls at the young, innocent Spot), new scents (colorful garden populated by a butterfly and two bees, and new friends. In the denouement, a fish (under a flap) warns Spot not to fall into the pond from which he is about to drink. The next page shows a soaked, but safe Spot heading back home. In another nice humorous touch, Sally asks Spot what he's been doing. The wet Spot, with flower, vegetable, and bone souvenirs of his first walk beside him, replies," Nothing." 24 pages long, with fairly sturdy flaps that should withstand nightly use for some time.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My daughter loves this book, December 13, 2010

By 

L. R. Rinehart (Baltimore, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spot's First Walk (color) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of my 16-month-old's favorites. I'm impressed with how durable the flaps are for a children's book, as she's been unable to pull them off thus far. She's even started saying the cute little phrases under some of the flaps as she lifts them. Great book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great little book, May 31, 2006

By 

A's mommy (CA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spot's First Walk (Board book)

I'm putting only 4 stars because this book is no nobel prize or anything, so I don't want people to expect the best in children litterature :)

But it's one of my son's (2 1/2 year-old) favorite books. He has memorized every page and will sit there on his own going through the book and telling the story. The sentences are very simple (3-4 word sentences that a 2 year old can easily repeat) and the flaps add to the interactive experience. Obviously we also read this book with him and it's an occasion for silly questions and a lot of fun. We own a few other of these Spot lift-the-flap books, and we all like them a lot. I can see our toddler reading them to our baby when he's older :)