Spot & Dot

PreS-Gr 2–Spot, the curious feline protagonist of Cole’s Spot, the Cat returns in this charming wordless sequel. At first, Spot perches on the chair by the window while his young owner reads. When the boy looks outside as well, they see a girl posting flyers for her lost dog. As they walk downstairs to investigate, Spot promptly dashes down the street and finds Dot, the missing pup, pawing through a trash bin. Dot bounds away and a merry chase ensues, taking readers on another urban adventure. Obsessively detailed spreads show the runaways dashing through city streets, a busy flea market, a trolley, a bakery, a doggy park, an orchestra in a gazebo, and even a library, all the while their children put up flyers. Disheartened, boy and girl head home (turning out to be next-door neighbors) just as their pets return and are reunited with their relieved owners. As in the previous installment, Cole’s meticulous black-and-white illustrations offer a wealth of details for poring over and many decoy spots and dots while the readers seek the furry heroes.