Dot the Ladybug: The Perfect Spot

by Kallie George, Stephanie Fizer Coleman (Illustrator)

Overview

"An introduction to reading—and to the gentlest of mysteries...by turns funny and sweet—and sure to hit the spot." —Kirkus Reviews

Dot the Ladybug is a charming sleuth in this endearing My First I Can Read series filled with sweet art and simple wordplay.

Jots the mouse is looking for the perfect spot. But finding a spot is not as easy as it looks. When is a spot not a dot? When it’s the perfect spot for a picnic! Dot is on the case to help out her friend in this latest adventure of Dot the Ladybug.

Kallie George’s fun yet simple wordplay, including synonyms and homonyms, will prompt lots of discussions. The text pairs perfectly with Stephanie Fizer Coleman’s vibrant illustrations in this My First I Can Read adventure for beginning readers. 

PRAISE FOR THE DOT THE LADYBUG SERIES:

“George’s entertaining new early reader is perfect for the classroom or any setting. Children, parents, and teachers will enjoy reading and sharing Dot’s story.” —School Library Journal

“A good pick for kids who are drawn to Elephant and Piggie books.” —ALA Booklist

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063137523
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/07/2025
Series:	My First I Can Read Series
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	13,015
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.80(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kallie George is an author, editor, and creative writing teacher. She has written numerous books for children, including the Magical Animal Adoption Agency series, the Heartwood Hotel series, Wings of Olympus, The Lost Gift, and the Duck, Duck, Dinosaur I Can Read series. Kallie lives in British Columbia, on Canada’s Sunshine Coast, with her husband and son. Visit Kallie online at kalliegeorge.com.

Stephanie Fizer Coleman is an illustrator with a penchant for playful color and rich texture. Having grown up in a rural area surrounded by nature, it's no surprise that furry and feathered creatures are her favorite subjects to draw. When she's not drawing, Steph can be found sipping tea and reading books. She lives in West Virginia with her husband and two dogs.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2024

K-Gr 1—Overconfident dot-spotter Dot dashes off to fulfill her mouse friend Jots's request for a spot. She encounters pointy things, "stripy" things, and other misdirection, but ultimately remembers that "Sometimes a spot isn't a dot"—the word "spot" can also mean "place" as well as "dot." The premise is classic and the illustrations are clean and fun, but the pacing and rhythm feel a little off, and the jump between rhyme, internal rhyme, and non-rhyming sentences can be jarring, as in "'Wait,' says Jots. 'Dot?' Too late. Off Dot trots." While the formula of mixing internal rhymes can be fun, the unpredictability of the rhyme scheme and pacing might also be daunting to early readers seeking the rock of repetition. Some of the harder words ("stripy") and the liberal use of apostrophes go against the early reader's simple mission. VERDICT A functional, but not expert, early reader.—Katya Schapiro

School Library Journal