The Dot

PreSchool-Grade 4-"Just make a mark and see where it takes you." This sage advice, offered by her intuitive, intelligent teacher, sets our young heroine on a journey of self-expression, artistic experimentation, and success. First pictured as being enveloped by a blue-and-gray miasma of discouragement and dejection, Vashti seems beaten by the blank paper before her. It is her defeatist declaration, "I just CAN'T draw," that evokes her teacher's sensitive suggestion. Once the child takes that very first stab at art, winningly and economically dramatized by Reynolds's fluid pen-and-ink, watercolor, and tea image of Vashti swooping down upon that vacant paper in a burst of red-orange energy, there's no stopping her. Honoring effort and show more overcoming convention are the themes here. Everything about this little gem, from its unusual trim size to the author's hand-lettered text, from the dot-shaped cocoons of carefully chosen color that embrace each vignette of Vashti to her inventive negative-space masterpiece, speaks to them. Best of all, with her accomplishment comes an invaluable bonus: the ability and the willingness to encourage and embolden others. With art that seems perfectly suited to the mood and the message of the text, Reynolds inspires with a gentle and generous mantra: "Just make a mark." show less

Art and self-expression look different for everybody, as no two of us are alike. The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, shows us what self-expression looks like for Vashti, the girl who thinks she can't draw. In a story about how one teacher can make a difference, just like one dot can convey meaning, any ideas you had about children's books being anything but high-quality artistic literature will vanish. Every detail from the lines to the colors to even the placement of those colors work together to make each page filled with symbolism and emotion. Each read brings to light a new detail previously unnoticed. I know I call at least 20 books in my collection a "favorite", but this tops almost all of them.

What a powerful story. The first time I read this it showed me the power of a teacher's belief. Believing in your student and supporting them in what they create is so impactful. The "Dot" focuses on a young girl who doesn't view herself as an artist until her teacher says "now sign it". Once that little girl adds her signature at the bottom of her picture she starts thinking of all the "better" dots she could create. Her imganiation runs wild. I'm going to start using this book at the start of each year. To show students that in theatre one movement, one line, one expression is good. I want them to know great actors begin with simply trying.

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 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 show more 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

Art class is over, but Vashti is sitting glued to her chair in front of a blank piece of paper. The words of her teacher are a gentle invitation to express herself. But Vashti can’t draw - she’s no artist. To prove her point, Vashti jabs at a blank sheet of paper to make an unremarkable and angry mark. "There!" she says. That one little dot marks the beginning of Vashti’s journey of surprise and self-discovery. That special moment is the core of Peter H. Reynolds’s delicate fable about the creative spirit in all of us.

LOVED this book about a kid who feels intimidated by the blank page. She does one simple thing, and then experiments, and voilá! she's made art. Then she passes it along. Can't imagine any way to make this book better.

The Dot - Peter H. Reynolds

Response - Vashti, the girl in this story, doesn't think she is an artist. That is, until her teacher encourages her to "just make a mark," and this leads to Vashti's journey will her artwork. It all starts with just one dot, and as she is encouraged, she learns that her dots are just as artistic and creative as any other piece of art. I loved this story about Vashti! The Dot speaks a lot of truth to the choices we have as instructors. We can cultivate creativity, or we can crush it. I hope I choose to cultivate and encourage creativity in my classroom, and I look forward to using this book in my classroom before we begin artistic expression