Spotty is a zebra. Everyone knows zebras have stripes not spots!
Spotty really doesn’t like her spots, especially when other zebras are unkind. She doesn’t like being different from her peers, and even tries to disguise her spots. But it never works. She begins to despair, wandering away from her herd. It’s only then she meets another creature who is also very different.
This creature however, lives underground and can’t even see Spotty’s spots. But this mole soon knows there is something wrong as Spotty wails…
“Just look at my patterns,” poor Spotty declared.
“The other young zebras all tease and compare.”
The mole understands Spotty’s dilemma, but has some advice.
“…but all of our quirks and our kinks and our shadesÂ
are part of the wonders that nature parades.”
Spending time with the mole and with the help of some new friends, Spotty tries another look. At first it seems to have done the trick, but it’s not long before her new look backfires too.
The mole’s advice soon becomes clear as Spotty’s loved ones gather around her. Spotty can finally see that she is the one who has to accept the wonderful quirky way she is, before anyone else can.
Spotty the Zebra is just wonderful!
Peter Millet’s rhyme is perfect, his story heart-warming and there are over 10 fun, bright, double spreads by NZ illustrator Raymond McGrath!
The first page / double spread introduces Spotty and her zebra herd. Finding her took only a moment as she has spots not stripes. She is unique. Different. She stands out.
But as in many young zebras / people, she doesn’t want to stand out. She’d much prefer to be just the same as her friends – not different. She tries to change herself to fit in better, but this only brings more heartache. A new friend / mole, personally understands about being different and tells Spotty it’s a good thing.
As in many young zebras / people, it takes a little convincing, and some more wrong turns. When Spotty finally realises being unique is great and her friends and family love her because of it, life is so much better.
Unfortunately, younger and younger people struggle with self esteem, so I can’t wait to show school librarians this wee gem. Spotty the Zebra is perfect to kick off important discussions at school and home about self acceptance, uniqueness, differences and embracing them.
An added extra at the end of the book is another double page spread, this time with photographs of other rare colours in the wild, and one-of-a-kind designs in nature.
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Author – Peter Millett
Illustrator – Raymond Mcgrath
Publisher – Scholastic NZ
Picture Book
More book reviews of Peter Millett titles here
More book reviews of Raymond McGrath titles here
(2024, Scholastic NZ, Aotearoa New Zealand, NZ Author, NZ Illustrator, Wild Animals, Camouflage, Humour, Funny, Zebra, Mole, Differences, Identity, Self Esteem, Fitting in, Being Different, Looking Different, Peers, Family, Confidence, Stripes, Spots, Patterns)