Just So Stories

Penguin Australia

June 2024

• ISBN: 9780241638842
• Imprint: Puffin
• Format: Board Book
• RRP: $14.99

Spot Bakes a Cake was first published in 2008 and has been both a paperback and a board book. Now this new edition of the board book will continue to bring joy to Smalls.

It’s Dad’s birthday, so Mum and Spot make a delicious cake for him. First they shop, then they bake and decorate, clean up (well, Mum does with Spot sort of helping!) and finally, surprise Dad with a birthday tea – balloons and gifts, a hand-drawn card and, of course, the pièce de résistance – the scrumptious, and icing-loaded, cake.

Like all the Spot books, it’s sweet and simple and will be a huge hit, as the Smalls eagerly lift the flaps to reveal the hidden surprises. Eric Hill died over a decade ago, but it is testament to the success of his work and his characters, that Spot and Co are just as popular with the tinies of today as they were 44 years ago, when I bought the first one, Where’s Spot?, for The Kid’s mum.

As with many other kiddos, Jen remained a Spot fan all her life and went on to share his adventures with her childcare kids, as well, of course, with her own Small. We LOVE Spot! And it will give me such great pleasure to share this to little Daisy, the new little human in our circle. Highly recommended for babies up to around 3/4 years old. Pre-order now from your regular supplier.

Eric Hill (1927-2014) started his artistic career as an art studio messenger and from there went on to become a cartoonist and eventually an art director at a leading advertising agency. In 1978 Eric made up a story about a small puppy to read to his son at bedtime and Spot was born. The success of his first bestselling lift-the-flap classic Where’s Spot? in 1980 convinced him to become a full-time author, and his Spot books have been enjoyed by children around the world ever since. In 2008 he was awarded an OBE for services to children’s literacy.