Peter H. Reynolds

Helping oneself can benefit others.

A brown-skinned, long-haired child comes to an important realization: “The better I feel inside, the more I can be there for others.” With compassion and a commitment toward doing what’s right, the youngster says, we can change the world. We can be a safety net for others, we can collectively demand justice, we can have gentle conversations to work out differences, and we can welcome others into the community. Combining creative talents, we can show more celebrate together; connecting with others opens up wonderful possibilities. Verde’s contemplative text sets a tone at once musing and affirming, while Reynolds’ cartoon illustrations visualize the concepts in practical ways, grounding readers in colorful and emotive images. In one noteworthy scene, the protagonist sits across a grassy ledge from a pale-skinned, red-haired child, both looking serious but understanding as they talk, the glowing sun and a distant ocean behind them. These characters are physically separated but clearly share a connection. An author’s note urges readers to try a group yoga exercise, while an accompanying image depicts young people leaning on one another in tree pose—a concrete example of how we are all stronger together. The cast is diverse.

A genuine call to action paired with sincere reflection. (Picture book. 3-6)

-Kirkus Review show less

Following up on his previous picture-books meant to encourage children to explore their potential as artists, The Dot and Ish, Peter H. Reynolds presents the story of Marisol in this third book in what the dust-jacket blurb calls his "Creatrilogy." An enthusiastic young artist who loves to draw and paint, and who is never without her box of art supplies, Marisol is put in charge of painting the sky for her class's mural for the school library. Distressed when she can't find the right hue, show more she observes the changing colors of the sky throughout the afternoon and evening, eventually realizing that she has been approaching the problem from the wrong angle. Rather than lamenting the fact that she doesn't have paint that is "sky color," she should be asking: what is sky color...?

As with its predecessors, I enjoyed reading Sky Color, both for the engaging story and for the charming artwork. Moving on from his original "just get started" message, in The Dot, and the ideas he presents about following one's own artistic vision, in Ish, Reynolds addresses the importance of artistic flexibility and looking at things from a different perspective here. An initial problem - the lack of blue paint for the sky portion of the class mural - is solved when Marisol realizes that the sky isn't always blue, and that she isn't required to depict it in one particular way. Recommended to young artists, and to anyone looking for children's stories that encourage creativity, and involvement in the arts. show less

Frustrated at her inability to get anything onto her paper in art class, Vashti informs her teacher that she simply can't draw, only to be met with kind but firm encouragement to "make her mark." Reacting with defiance, Vashti takes her marker and makes a single dot on the white page. Surprised when she returns to art class the next week and discovers that her "picture" has been framed and hung on the wall, Vashti is inspired to play with the idea of the dot, eventually creating a number of show more interesting and imaginative paintings, all with the same theme. When a younger child admires her work at the school art show, and then confesses that he can't draw, Vashti knows what to do...

Like his subsequent picture-book, Ish (which I happened to read first), Peter H. Reynolds offers encouragement here for young kids who feel that they simply aren't cut out to be artists, demonstrating that sometimes all it takes to create something wonderful is to just make a beginning. I appreciated how Vashti's teacher reacted to her frustration, starting from the position that Vashti is already an artist, and helping her to see that by taking her initial, not-so-sincere effort seriously. By showing respect for Vashti's efforts, she encourages Vashti to do the same. As one would expect in a picture-book meant to encourage young artists, the illustrations here are charming, with a simple but expressive style that captures Vashti's varying moods. Recommended to young children who think they aren't artistic, and to the adults in their lives who are trying to convince them to give creative endeavors a try. show less

A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right". Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere. Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than show more getting things just "right." Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care. show less