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Reviewed by Jennifer Senick for Readers' Favorite
Have you ever wondered why some ladybugs have spots and some don’t? Dot’s Spots by Lisa Mueller answers that very question, but in a non-scientific way. Readers are introduced to Dot, who asks her mother why she doesn’t have spots like her. Her mother tells her it’s because she must do good deeds to earn her spots. So, Dot goes on a hunt to find others in need of help. Along the way, she meets several others from the bug world who need her help, like a spider, a worm, and a butterfly. In the end, not only does Dot have spots like her mother, but she’s proud that she was able to help some new friends, too.
As an educator, I found Dots Spots by Lisa Mueller to be a very thoughtful story. Since young children always want to help, they will be able to identify with Dot’s need to help others. I also think it will be a great book to use for discussions on empathy, being helpful, and being a good friend. It could also be paired with simple classroom activities, like having students draw their own “good deed” spots on paper ladybugs. Students will find Kashif Qasim’s illustrations engaging with their soft colors, playful expressions, and charming insect details. After seeing all the bugs in the story, kids will surely want to tell which of them was their favorite. While this book doesn’t scientifically tell children why some ladybugs have spots and some don’t, it does a great job of teaching the life lesson of helping others.
