Spot goes to School (Spot Goes to School - Eric Hill)

Member Name: cmh4135

Product:	Spot Goes to School - Eric Hill
Date:	09/10/08 (135 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: simple story and good illustrations

Disadvantages: behaviour not always appropriate or corrected

Spot is one of my son's most loved literary characters. Created by Eric Hill, the Spot range of books are both simple and a delight to read with toddlers. Each story tends to be set around a theme that will be familiar to little ones meaning that you can use the books as a teaching and exploring aid.

'Spot goes to school' is, unsurprisingly, based around a first day at school. Spot is initially wary about school but soon learns that his friends will be there, that the teacher is nice, that lessons are fun and that, at the end of the day, despite not wanting to go home, mum will be there to collect him. It also, amusingly, teaches mum that children will say that school was "just OK" from the outset!

In common with many Spot books this book is a 'lift the flap' book allowing the child to discover certain things on the way and encouraging interactive story-telling.

I think that this book could be a good starting place for children about to embark on their first day at nursery or play-school but there are some issues too.

My main issue is, perhaps, one that others might not be so concerned about but to me is a big thing. At one stage Spot is meant to be reading but in fact is play fighting with another 'child'. This goes uncorrected and instead is seen as fun. I'm not sure this sends the right message.

The discovery flaps make quite a bit of sense, allowing the story to develop as they are lifted. This is in contrast to some of the other Spot books (such as 'Spot goes to the park') where the flaps seem to be there for flaps sake.

The illustrations are typically Spot - bright, bold and simple with just enough detail to keep a curious child satisfied but not so much as to overload the senses. The flaps on my paperback edition are strong enough for daily use but wouldn't withstand tugging or tantrums!

This is a book that we read again, and again (and sometimes again) with neither of us really tiring of the theme. The length of the book is right for children aged 18-30 months and most will start telling you the story or embellishing it in a short space of time.

It's not really a bedtime book but is suited to daytime reading.

I don't think it's really going to solve the problems of a child who doesn't want to go to school but, used in conjunction with other material could be used to aid the first days at school and provide a good basis for discussion.

Summary: A good toddler book but it won't make your child go to school!