Spot Helps Youngsters Adjust to School

In the world of books for very young children, Spot, the little yellow dog with the big brown spot, looms large. Eric Hill has written and illustrated many lift-the-flap books detailing this lovable scalawag's adventures. My brother loved them in his toddler years, and a boy I sometimes babysit can't get enough of them. The simple sentences in large print, the bright illustrations and, most of all, the surprises under the flaps make for a winning combination every time. Spot Goes to School is one of his favorites.

The books are geared toward the very young, probably ages two to four; based on that and the activities in which Spot is involved during school, I'm guessing it's his first day of preschool. The fact that there's no mention of lunch strengthens that impression. Like many youngsters in that situation, he is a bit nervous, but mostly he's excited to spend the day in the company of friends (a monkey, a hippo, a turtle and an alligator) embracing new experiences.

These include singing around the piano, playing dress-up in a playhouse, spelling words with blocks, participating in show and tell, playing on the playground, listening to a story with his classmates and painting a colorful picture on an easel. It's a pretty packed day for a little pooch, but he's not complaining, and tots who are anxious about venturing off to school for the first time might take comfort in the ease of his adjustment.

As is typical for a Spot book, the story depends upon the pictures. Most of the accompanying sentences are dialogue, though no tags are attached to tell us who is speaking. That inference must be made from the picture. Underneath most flaps, there is usually a speech bubble containing a brief comment from one of the characters, most often Spot. Between the main sentence and this addendum, most pages still feature ten words or fewer.

The only issue with the book is one of hardiness. The copy belonging to the aforementioned boy is tattered, and several flaps bear evidence of multiple applications of Scotch tape. It's still readable, but it's advisable not to leave the book unattended with especially young children who might be inclined to go a little crazy with the flaps. Otherwise, Spot Goes to School is a great addition to the bookshelf of a soon-to-be-preschooler.