Where's Spot? Right Here!

Happy Birthday to Eric Hill, author of the "Spot" books!

Eric Hill 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.

After a spell in the airforce, Eric returned to the studio to work on his cartoons, which soon began to be published in national magazines and newspapers. He started a weekly strip for the London magazine Illustrated and did small story sketches for Lilliput. After a year, he left the studio and joined the art department of an advertising agency as a visualizer.

In 1976 Eric’s son Christopher was born, and by the time Christopher was two his Dad was making up stories about the adventures of a small puppy to read to him at bedtime - and Spot was born!

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’.

My grandson loves my (youngest son's) old copy of Spot's First Words!

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.

Take time to visit the "Fun With Spot" website dedicated to this puppy and his books...there are even free downloads available for a Spot Party!

I also love this slide show from The Guardian, in which you can watch Eric Hill sketching and explaining about how he fell into writing children's book almost by accident!

[biography source here]