Persistence and grit are
something that I desperately try to stress to my daughter. I recently loaded up on books that have this
message in them. The Dot showed up on a
subject search, and when I saw the cover I had to grab it as orange is my favorite
color.
Author/Illustrator: Peter H Reynolds
Publisher: Candlewick Press (2003)
Prices: Hardcover - $9.57, Paperback – $4.02, Kindle - $9.09, Audible - $9.95, DVD - $59.99
Reading level: Ages 4-10
Interest level: Lower Grades
Physical Characteristics: Hardcover, 32 pages, 8.5x7.8
Genre: Children's Fiction Picture Book
Subjects:
Art – Fiction
Schools – Fiction
Self-confidence - Fiction
Annotation: A little girl believes she cannot draw until she receives the encouragement of a great teacher, and then she lets her creative juices flow.
Summary
Vashti, a young girl, sits after art class staring at her empty piece of paper. She is visibly disheartened that she is not good at art. Her teacher comes over, asks Vashti to just make a mark and sigh her “art”. The next day when Vashti returns to art class she sees her mark, which was a dot, framed in an ornate golden frame. This small act of kindness by her art teacher gives Vashti confidence in her art skills. She makes larger dots, more colorful dots, pen dots, paint dots, single dots, huge wall size dots. At the school art showcase Vashti’s dots are all on display and she and her art are a hit. At the end of the book Vashti helps a young boy realize that he too has art potential.
The Dot is one of a a trilogy of books by Peter Reynolds dedicated to creativity and I love it. The story is simple, universal and well told. Many books telegraph to kids that in order to be special they must be spectacular or superheros, not simply themselves. The Dot shows Vashti as a normal kid, with normal discouragement at her self-perceived lack of artistic talent. But, a lovely teacher is able to gently show Vashti that she in fact is special and her art, even though it isn’t some intricate masterpiece, is beautiful and important. Vashti finds her talent within herself. The pictures are simple black figures with pops of colors in a variation of dots. The illustrations, like the text, are simple and strong. I highly recommend this book.
Similar Titles or Authors:
Sky Color and Ish are part of a Creatrilogy by Peter H Reynolds
Beautiful, Oops! By Barney Saltzberg
The day the Crayons Quit by Day Daywalt
Websites:
The Christopher Award
Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner
Publishers Weekly - STARRED Review
Booklist - STARRED Review
Chicago Public Library Best Books for Children and Teens
School Library Journal - STARRED Review
Nick Jr. Family Magazine - "Best of 2003" Awards
Borders Original Voices Selection
Book Sense 76 selection
Babyzone Amazing Book Awards 2003
Book Links Editor's Best of 2003
Chapman Awards for Best Classroom Read-Alouds
School Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
All images (c)Peter H Reynolds
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