What jumps out about this edition of Spot's First Easter is the vibrant colors. Eric Hill always had a knack for occasional splashes of brightness to please the eye, but it marks this book beginning to end as Spot and his friend Helen the hippo search for eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny. Will they find all six?
The eggs can be anywhere in or around the house. Spot finds one under a flower pot, and Helen sees an egg in the garden. Spot notices one nestled under a bluebird in a tree. Will Helen find an egg behind the feed sack? Within the house, Spot retrieves an egg tucked into a bowl of fruit, and the last egg is inside the grandfather clock. It's been a fun Easter.
Reasons abound to like this book. It doubles as a tutor for learning to count, with the Easter Bunny now and then reminding us how many eggs remain. I like that not every liftable flap reveals an egg; some places checked are dead ends, so the game feels more real. I love the bright colors in this particular edition: the green cover, red garden bench, and luminescent multicolor shed are just a few items that visually pop. Helen herself is a nice shade of blue. I rate Spot's First Easter two and a half stars; it's as good as any book to that point in the series.