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Spot the Dog
Where's Spot?
This bigger, brighter hardback edition of Eric Hill's iconic first lift-the-flap book celebrates 30 years since first publication in hardback. The simple text and colourful pictures will engage a whole new generation of pre-readers as they lift the picture flaps in search of Spot. A number 1 bestseller since it was first published in 1980, this interactive favourite has stayed in the charts ever since.
20 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2010
76 people are currently reading
3514 people want to read
About the author
Eric Hill
850 books119 followersEric Gordon Hill OBE was a popular author and illustrator of children's picture books, best known for his character Spot the Dog. His works have been widely praised for their contributions to child literacy. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews
November 30, 2012
Before I'd read Ulysses, I must admit I was sceptical about claims that every novel written since can do little more than recapitulate it in one form or another. But now my eyes have been opened: at a glance, it is obvious that Where's Spot? is in essence no more than an abbreviated, non-sexist, non-speciesist version, retold in a manner suitable for three year olds who like lift-the-flap books.
Penelope (Spot's mother) has evicted Ulysses (Spot's father) from Ithaca. Traumatized, Telemachus (Spot) reenacts his progenitor's wanderings in symbolic form; reversing the roles, Penelope goes in search of him. After unsuccessfully looking among the Lestrygonians (the hat box) and Nausicaa's island (behind the sofa), she eventually finds him in Circe's palace, engaged in an S&M orgy with three soft toys. [Surely some mistake? - Ed.]
Penelope (Spot's mother) has evicted Ulysses (Spot's father) from Ithaca. Traumatized, Telemachus (Spot) reenacts his progenitor's wanderings in symbolic form; reversing the roles, Penelope goes in search of him. After unsuccessfully looking among the Lestrygonians (the hat box) and Nausicaa's island (behind the sofa), she eventually finds him in Circe's palace, engaged in an S&M orgy with three soft toys. [Surely some mistake? - Ed.]
October 3, 2025
This book was an inspirational read!
You’ll wonder how a book like ‘Where’s Spot’, which is a toddler or early PYP book, can ever be inspirational for an adult like me.
Well, it is inspirational for me because it happened to be the very first lift the flap book that initiated the avalanche of more lift the flap books right throughout the roaring 1980s and 1990s. Even today, lift the flap books are a big deal in early PYP or Primary Years Programme board or story books and so I salute the pioneering author and creator Eric Hill of the ‘Spot the Dog’ series for creating this wonderful world of educational flap books for us.
His innovation in the year 1980 for his own toddler son became the reason why reading books became so much fun throughout the 1980s and 1990s. I thank Eric Hill who through his creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity created this wonderful lift the flap world for younger readers and creating in the youngest of the young a love for reading for ages to come.
Eric Hill passed away in the year 2014 but his legacy as a promoter of child literacy lives on in the golden period of early PYP literature of the 21st century. Sadly, many children today in this post-Truth Era do not continue with their fascination for the printed word or books into their pre-teen years and then land up becoming teenagers or young adults who just don’t read and just don’t give a fish about the same. We hope that in due time the contributions of such stalwart book creators and authors can further induce Gen-Alpha and Gen-Beta children to continue their reading habits into their junior school life and then beyond. This should be done not merely for academic purposes, but to make this cruel world a better place to live in.
When you see some of the leaders or powers that be ruling our world today, you can easily notice that they were certainly not brought up on the ‘Spot the Dog’ series like most of us 1980s and 1990s and early Gen-Z kids – because there is no empathy, compassion or remorse in their brutality and sheer immorality, which they have the audacity to cover up with the gloss of conservativeness in religion and term as maintaining ‘the so called natural law of social order’. The next time you visit them for a photoshoot, gift them Eric Hill’s ‘Where’s Spot’ and if you can afford it, a local library membership card for 4 or 5 years for free; that will certainly solve our global problems better than all the protests in the rain, cold and hot weather that we can ever do even for a million years to come!
Eric Hill was also in his lifetime appointed as the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honour List and I am not surprised about that. It is not surprising because anyone who revolutionizes children’s literature for the better the way he has, deserves more praises than generations can ever afford. Let us not forget that in creating this classic board book ‘Where’s Spot’ he has managed to affect the lives of toddlers everywhere in the world, including someone like me and my students here in Mumbai, India. I’ve known people in India who keep the ‘Spot the Dog’ series as a staple diet for their toddlers, and it is a compulsory book for a toddler in all the kindergarten schools of South-India since the year the board book first came to India.
This is a better and more positive contribution to society than nuclear weapons, nuclear arsenal, guns galore, bombs, communalistic notions, AI, etc. This is because a child who reads will become an adult who thinks. Not just an adult who thinks up the stock market or economic policies or diplomacy, etc., but an adult who thinks about the consequences of their actions both short term but especially long term.
Eric Hill gets 5 stars from this 1990s kid and his old-time fan.
Thank you, Sir, for giving me and others around the world the best introduction to the world of books. Most of us owe our early toddler years to you, Sir. We are grateful.
So, therefore, this book was truly an inspirational read!
You’ll wonder how a book like ‘Where’s Spot’, which is a toddler or early PYP book, can ever be inspirational for an adult like me.
Well, it is inspirational for me because it happened to be the very first lift the flap book that initiated the avalanche of more lift the flap books right throughout the roaring 1980s and 1990s. Even today, lift the flap books are a big deal in early PYP or Primary Years Programme board or story books and so I salute the pioneering author and creator Eric Hill of the ‘Spot the Dog’ series for creating this wonderful world of educational flap books for us.
His innovation in the year 1980 for his own toddler son became the reason why reading books became so much fun throughout the 1980s and 1990s. I thank Eric Hill who through his creativity, innovativeness and ingenuity created this wonderful lift the flap world for younger readers and creating in the youngest of the young a love for reading for ages to come.
Eric Hill passed away in the year 2014 but his legacy as a promoter of child literacy lives on in the golden period of early PYP literature of the 21st century. Sadly, many children today in this post-Truth Era do not continue with their fascination for the printed word or books into their pre-teen years and then land up becoming teenagers or young adults who just don’t read and just don’t give a fish about the same. We hope that in due time the contributions of such stalwart book creators and authors can further induce Gen-Alpha and Gen-Beta children to continue their reading habits into their junior school life and then beyond. This should be done not merely for academic purposes, but to make this cruel world a better place to live in.
When you see some of the leaders or powers that be ruling our world today, you can easily notice that they were certainly not brought up on the ‘Spot the Dog’ series like most of us 1980s and 1990s and early Gen-Z kids – because there is no empathy, compassion or remorse in their brutality and sheer immorality, which they have the audacity to cover up with the gloss of conservativeness in religion and term as maintaining ‘the so called natural law of social order’. The next time you visit them for a photoshoot, gift them Eric Hill’s ‘Where’s Spot’ and if you can afford it, a local library membership card for 4 or 5 years for free; that will certainly solve our global problems better than all the protests in the rain, cold and hot weather that we can ever do even for a million years to come!
Eric Hill was also in his lifetime appointed as the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2008 New Year Honour List and I am not surprised about that. It is not surprising because anyone who revolutionizes children’s literature for the better the way he has, deserves more praises than generations can ever afford. Let us not forget that in creating this classic board book ‘Where’s Spot’ he has managed to affect the lives of toddlers everywhere in the world, including someone like me and my students here in Mumbai, India. I’ve known people in India who keep the ‘Spot the Dog’ series as a staple diet for their toddlers, and it is a compulsory book for a toddler in all the kindergarten schools of South-India since the year the board book first came to India.
This is a better and more positive contribution to society than nuclear weapons, nuclear arsenal, guns galore, bombs, communalistic notions, AI, etc. This is because a child who reads will become an adult who thinks. Not just an adult who thinks up the stock market or economic policies or diplomacy, etc., but an adult who thinks about the consequences of their actions both short term but especially long term.
Eric Hill gets 5 stars from this 1990s kid and his old-time fan.
Thank you, Sir, for giving me and others around the world the best introduction to the world of books. Most of us owe our early toddler years to you, Sir. We are grateful.
So, therefore, this book was truly an inspirational read!
February 27, 2020
Eric Hill's "Where's Spot?" is, not to put too fine a point on it, weird.
If I was a toddler (the book's target demographic), I probably wouldn't have a problem with it. It's basically a dog named Sally looking for her pup, Spot. As it is, I don't think it's really all that terrific in the way of plot. There's very little character development and nothing in the way of conflict, really, because we never get the sense of horror or dread from Sally that we may never actually find Spot. Finding Spot is kind of a given.
What's weird is that, through the course of the book, Sally looks inside various pieces of furniture and appliances. Instead of finding Spot, though, she uncovers other different animals---a snake inside the grandfather clock, a hippo inside the piano, a crocodile under the bed.
Never once does Sally question why there are so many wild animals hiding in this house. Why are they hiding? What could be so terrifying that a hippo would try to find shelter within a piano?
There is, sadly, no answers to these questions.
I gave it five stars, though, because Spot is so darn cute.
If I was a toddler (the book's target demographic), I probably wouldn't have a problem with it. It's basically a dog named Sally looking for her pup, Spot. As it is, I don't think it's really all that terrific in the way of plot. There's very little character development and nothing in the way of conflict, really, because we never get the sense of horror or dread from Sally that we may never actually find Spot. Finding Spot is kind of a given.
What's weird is that, through the course of the book, Sally looks inside various pieces of furniture and appliances. Instead of finding Spot, though, she uncovers other different animals---a snake inside the grandfather clock, a hippo inside the piano, a crocodile under the bed.
Never once does Sally question why there are so many wild animals hiding in this house. Why are they hiding? What could be so terrifying that a hippo would try to find shelter within a piano?
There is, sadly, no answers to these questions.
I gave it five stars, though, because Spot is so darn cute.
March 17, 2019
Love these books
September 28, 2021
I have such strong memories of both this and the animated series.
I was also surprised to learn that it was the first 'lift the flap up' book for kids.
With such a cool concept that allows the reader to explore all the possible places that Spot could be hiding.
Fun interactive storytelling with delightfully memorable illustrations.
I was also surprised to learn that it was the first 'lift the flap up' book for kids.
With such a cool concept that allows the reader to explore all the possible places that Spot could be hiding.
Fun interactive storytelling with delightfully memorable illustrations.
June 28, 2017
A classic - was so happy to introduce this book to my friends 3 year old son - the smiles and the laughter made my day!
April 18, 2020
A short and simple story about a puppy that has hidden. I have no clue why I never have read this little book. Cute and exciting for kids.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
This book is in the 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up challenge I am doing.
August 13, 2023
The twist at the end gets me every time
March 30, 2010
Words cannot describe the inspiration one can attain from this masterpiece. This is a must read for any human being.
February 23, 2017
I did what I had to do to finish my challenge..............
June 9, 2025
I did and did not remember reading this delightful book, which made it like reading for the first time. The lift-the-flaps truly make this search for Spot so much fun and hopefully they will survive my grandson's eager (and impatient?) pulling when we read it. But if not, there is always tape.
Who is Spot? That is what you have to find out by reading the book. It is worth it! Timeless.
Who is Spot? That is what you have to find out by reading the book. It is worth it! Timeless.
August 15, 2020
Nostalgia hit me like a brick with this book! I remember it from my own childhood.
June 23, 2017
Kinda concerning that these people have a snake, a hippo, and a lion living in their home.
December 21, 2021
He’s in the basket.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2024
I looked and looked and I still couldn’t find him!!
June 20, 2015
There will apparently never be a finish date for this book. We ( my granddaughter and I) reach the last page, she turns the book to the front cover and signs "more". - She us thirteen months old and will look for Spot for forty five minutes at a session. Actually she could go longer, but grandma can't.
July 10, 2015
A very short well done flap opening type of book.
November 20, 2018
Really strange animals in that house!
July 21, 2016
Absolutely adorable and my kiddo loves it!
February 10, 2022
Ridiculous how much my kids loved these books!
April 20, 2025
I know that Where’s Spot is a popular title and I get no pleasure from saying that I was disappointed by it.
Granted, I’m not necessarily the target demographic, and Alina (2 years old) seemed to enjoy it considerably more.
For her, the novelty of Spot’s mother inadvertently locating various animals didn’t wear off. In fact, she found it to be the very definition of a page turner. For me, as someone who prefers character-led fiction, I hoped to get to know more about Spot. Why was he hiding in the first place? Did he even want to be found?
Granted, I’m not necessarily the target demographic, and Alina (2 years old) seemed to enjoy it considerably more.
For her, the novelty of Spot’s mother inadvertently locating various animals didn’t wear off. In fact, she found it to be the very definition of a page turner. For me, as someone who prefers character-led fiction, I hoped to get to know more about Spot. Why was he hiding in the first place? Did he even want to be found?
August 23, 2018
My mum gave me this book recently for my baby boy and it brought back so many memories! I don't know why but I treasured this book for many of my younger years. I loved the illustrations and opening the pop out pages to try and find spot. It was my 'go to' book and I'd read it again and again. It seems my little boy is a fan already as he eagerly grabs the book off me to open the pages and the flaps on the pages. He adores dogs so I think this book will become a favourite for him too!
November 21, 2021
Shakespearean
March 19, 2024
My wife was sold, 100% thought Spot was under the rug
December 25, 2025
Clever and suspenseful. Where’s spot? had me on the edge of my seat for the entire read. Could not put it down until I knew the ending.
September 30, 2015
This is one of the best ever lift-the-flap-books created and the first book in the series about the mischievous Spot the dog. This book introduces the reader to Spots family and Spots home, during the book the children can relate to familiar objects within the book and to objects they are familiar with. The children can pretend to be detectives and the mystery is ‘Where’s Spot?’ which can entice the children to concentrate on the book; the flaps makes the book interactive, the adult reading the book to the children can select children to lift the flap so the children are interactive during the story, and can be asking the children questions throughout the book (e.g. Do you think Spot is behind there? Where would you hide if you was Spot?).
Similar to my previous book review Dear Zoo, the simplistic language will support Key Stage 1, Early Key Stage 2 and English as an additional language (EAL) learner. This will enable the children to understand different parts and items in a house, this again will help the EAL learner be able to relate to the pictures and recognise them so they can enhance their learning of English.
I love the mystery element of the book, I would love to ask the children to put their detective hats on and help solve the mystery of where’s Spot. This can be linked to drama, because this is a simple and clear book, a pair/group of children can get a page of the book and the higher achievers can create their own page in the book to extend their knowledge and creativity and then be able to perform that page to the class simultaneously.
This is a fun and interactive book which would be great to use with Key Stage 1 learners!
Similar to my previous book review Dear Zoo, the simplistic language will support Key Stage 1, Early Key Stage 2 and English as an additional language (EAL) learner. This will enable the children to understand different parts and items in a house, this again will help the EAL learner be able to relate to the pictures and recognise them so they can enhance their learning of English.
I love the mystery element of the book, I would love to ask the children to put their detective hats on and help solve the mystery of where’s Spot. This can be linked to drama, because this is a simple and clear book, a pair/group of children can get a page of the book and the higher achievers can create their own page in the book to extend their knowledge and creativity and then be able to perform that page to the class simultaneously.
This is a fun and interactive book which would be great to use with Key Stage 1 learners!
March 17, 2025
Every now and then a book so heavily influences later releases, people forget how significant the original was. Such was the case with Dorothy Kunhardt's tactile Pat the Bunny in 1940, and Where's Spot? by Eric Hill in 1980. His liftable flaps became a mainstay of toddler literature, a way to make reading interactive.
Where is Sally the dog's puppy, Spot? He left his supper untouched. Sally doesn't find him behind the door, or hiding inside the grandfather clock; no, other animals are in those places. Spot isn't inside the piano or tucked away under the main staircase. He's not in the closet or under the bed, nor is he in the ornate box or beneath the rug. Spot is somewhere else, waiting for his mum to take him back to his supper. He's a sweet pup.
Technically innovative as Where's Spot? was in 1980, the story has subtle mischief all its own. When Sally searches for Spot in the house, why does she encounter a bear, snake, hippo, lion, monkey, alligator, and penguins? We can only speculate, but there's an amusing lesson here: when looking for one thing in particular, it's easy to develop tunnel vision and miss the extraordinary as it's happening around you. Where's Spot? is a classic of the preschool set, a story I always had fun with. Cheers!
Where is Sally the dog's puppy, Spot? He left his supper untouched. Sally doesn't find him behind the door, or hiding inside the grandfather clock; no, other animals are in those places. Spot isn't inside the piano or tucked away under the main staircase. He's not in the closet or under the bed, nor is he in the ornate box or beneath the rug. Spot is somewhere else, waiting for his mum to take him back to his supper. He's a sweet pup.
Technically innovative as Where's Spot? was in 1980, the story has subtle mischief all its own. When Sally searches for Spot in the house, why does she encounter a bear, snake, hippo, lion, monkey, alligator, and penguins? We can only speculate, but there's an amusing lesson here: when looking for one thing in particular, it's easy to develop tunnel vision and miss the extraordinary as it's happening around you. Where's Spot? is a classic of the preschool set, a story I always had fun with. Cheers!
October 12, 2008
Synopsis
: A classic tale of a mother dog searching for her own lost puppy, finding eight other animals hiding around the house before finding her own. Fun, interactive flaps conceal the animals.
Review : What can I say? I love flap, flip, "reveal the hidden surprise" books and this one is no exception. Although I would be hesitant to recommend this book to any tiny child without some adult supervision as the flaps aren't sturdy enough to take aggressive flipping. The story leads the readers on a search for Spot where words for furniture such door,clock, piano and animals such as bear, snake, hippo are introduced. Funny that the house is filled with bears, lions and snakes---children will have fun mimicking the sounds each animal makes and can even add special effect noises for opening the door, piano, trunk. A book filled with endless educational possibilities! Also might be a good book to teach the lesson "no hiding from parents".
Critical Reviews : Barnes's & Nobel said, "Little readers will have a bow-wow-wonderful time looking for the popular pooch." Children's Literature noted, "Children love books that pop-up, flip-flop, or have something special about them."
Review : What can I say? I love flap, flip, "reveal the hidden surprise" books and this one is no exception. Although I would be hesitant to recommend this book to any tiny child without some adult supervision as the flaps aren't sturdy enough to take aggressive flipping. The story leads the readers on a search for Spot where words for furniture such door,clock, piano and animals such as bear, snake, hippo are introduced. Funny that the house is filled with bears, lions and snakes---children will have fun mimicking the sounds each animal makes and can even add special effect noises for opening the door, piano, trunk. A book filled with endless educational possibilities! Also might be a good book to teach the lesson "no hiding from parents".
Critical Reviews : Barnes's & Nobel said, "Little readers will have a bow-wow-wonderful time looking for the popular pooch." Children's Literature noted, "Children love books that pop-up, flip-flop, or have something special about them."
March 20, 2014
Book review 6 - Where’s Spot? - Eric Hill
This is another great ‘lift-the-flap’ book and one, which I recommend all adults to read to their children or buy the book for their children to read. The book is about a mother dog searching for her lost puppy (Spot) and as she roams around the house she finds eight other animals before she finds Spot. This creates opportunity for children to mimic animal sounds. This book is simple to read and the text is large and clear. Each page contains a picture of some sort and throughout the book there is a sense of adventure. Children will love to follow the story in the search for ‘Spot’ as well as lifting up the flaps along the way. It truly is a classic book and one, which has inspired other authors to create similar books – it has also inspired a TV series, which has gained good reviews from adults and children alike. Furthermore, the book has a repetitive nature and repeats words and phrases, which helps children in learning new vocabulary.
This is another great ‘lift-the-flap’ book and one, which I recommend all adults to read to their children or buy the book for their children to read. The book is about a mother dog searching for her lost puppy (Spot) and as she roams around the house she finds eight other animals before she finds Spot. This creates opportunity for children to mimic animal sounds. This book is simple to read and the text is large and clear. Each page contains a picture of some sort and throughout the book there is a sense of adventure. Children will love to follow the story in the search for ‘Spot’ as well as lifting up the flaps along the way. It truly is a classic book and one, which has inspired other authors to create similar books – it has also inspired a TV series, which has gained good reviews from adults and children alike. Furthermore, the book has a repetitive nature and repeats words and phrases, which helps children in learning new vocabulary.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 650 reviews