‘Spot’ series grew from chance start

Press, 16 May 1985, Page 4

‘Spot’ series grew from chance start

To thousands of children and their parents throughout the world, “Spot” the puppy is as familiar as their own family pet The five “Spot” children’s books have topped international best-seller lists since the first, “Where’s Spot,” was written in 1980.

More than one million of the books have been sold throughout the world and they are published in 40 languages, including Maori. “Spot’s” creator, Mr Eric Hill, was in Christchurch yesterday to promote the latest book, “Spot Goes on Holiday,” which will be published in June in both English and Maori editions.

Mr Hill, a graphic artist turned full-time children’s author and illustrator, wrote the prototype for the series for his son, Christopher, then aged two. “I was working from home in London, so probably saw more of Christopher than most fathers. I wasn’t expecting the book to be published — it was a personal thing, not a literary work,” he said. The book was published more by good luck than good management. Mr Hill was working for someone whose daughter was a literaiy agent, living in Canada. On a visit to London she saw the book and decided to take it to a book fair, where it was noticed by a publishing company,

“Where’s Spot” quickly became a No. 1 best-seller in Britain and other countries and readers were eager for more. “The next book, ‘Spot’s First Walk,’ introduces him to the outside world, very much the way a child learns about things. “By this time I was following the events of Christopher’s life very closely — the first birthday, Christmas, and then going to kindergarten,” said Mr Hill. The latest book was written specifically to introduce “Spot’s” father. Until then all the books had been about “Spot” or his mother. “ ‘Spot Goes On Holiday* was a direct result of people asking if ‘Spot’ is from a one-parent family. ‘Sam’ the father works on a farm so he hadn’t been around much. A family holiday seemed a good way of introducing him.” , Simplicity was probably the key to the books’ success, said Mr Hill. The storyline and illustrations were distilled down to their most simple form. “Very young children get confused by too elaborate a presentation. Lots of children’s books are very beautiful, but just a little too detailed.

"Apparently many teachers find the books useful in the classroom because of the simplicity.” The books are thought to

be the first to use lift-up flaps, another idea from Christopher, who liked looking under the flaps on an advertising lay-out sheet The choice of a puppy as the central character was also much more good luck than intentional, but Mr Hill thinks this may have helped international sales.

“When ‘Spot’ goes to school his classmates are a mixture of animals, not just other breeds of dogs. Many children are in classes with a mixture of colour, creed, and religion. “ ‘Spot’ has been described as a very gentle creature. I won’t ever get him chasing birds or rabbits. He goes fishing, but never catches anything.” “ ‘Spot’s” fame has spread far and wide — even the Queen has a set for Prince William. This prompted one British newspaper to write, tongue-in-cheek, that the Royal corgis had had their noses put out of joint because the Palace had a new dog. “It is an honour to be ‘Spot’s’ dad. That sounds very pompous, but I was plunged into it from the word go.” Christopher, now aged nine, had grown past the books. He would never let on to his classmates who his father was, said Mr Hill. “At times he is very proud of me, but he does get acutely embarrassed on occasions.