The Dot (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards)) [Hardcover]

Peter H. Reynolds (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Release date: September 15, 2003 | Series: Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards)

With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark - and follow where it takes us.

Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

A frustrated grade school artist, Vashti sits slumped over her blank piece of paper at the end of art class. "I just CAN'T draw!" she tells her teacher. Her teacher first uses wit, then subtle yet clever encouragement to inspire her student to go beyond her insecurities and become, in the words of a younger boy who "can’t" draw either, "a really great artist."

Peter H. Reynolds crafts a quiet, pleasing story in The Dot--one that will strike a chord with children who have outgrown the self-assurance of kindergarten and begun to doubt their own greatness. His marvelous watercolor, ink, and, yes, tea illustrations are appealing in a Quentin Blakey way, especially as Vashti begins to go wild with her dots. The delightfully open-ended conclusion will have readers of all ages contemplating how they can make their own mark in the world. Highly recommended. (Ages 5 to 9) --Emilie Coulter

From School Library Journal

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 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."-Kathy Krasniewicz, Perrot Library, Greenwich, CT
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Candlewick; 1st edition (September 15, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0763619612
• ISBN-13: 978-0763619619
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 0.4 x 7.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (83 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Welcome, friends. Thank you for the tremendous support of my work which includes books I have written and illustrated, as well as collaborations, like Someday with Alisan McGhee and the Judy Moody series with Megan McDonald. My children's media company, FableVision, located in Boston, is dedicated to crafting "stories that matter, stories that move." My twin brother, Paul, and I founded an independent bookshop in Dedham Square, MA called The Blue Bunny.

Much of my work is designed to inspire all of us to navigate our true potential - to be brave, original, inspirational, inspired, and active.

My hope is that my work will also inspire YOU to make YOUR mark - and see where it takes you.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must for Any Elementary Library March 2, 2004

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This book was delivered automatically in our Junior Library Guild order, and it has become one of my all-time favorites as a librarian.

When Vashti angrily stabs a dot onto an empty art class assignment, her teacher wisely follows through with a lesson in life by framing her dot for all to see.

This little bit of attention takes Vashti to new heights by allowing her to take that dot and see where it leads her. She paints all sorts of dots and gains new confidence.

What the story really teaches us is to try, and to start with the tiniest of dots to begin our journeys. As my library class discussed the theme, many of the kids brought up "dots" in their own lives, such as learning how to roller skate, sink a free-throw, or turn a cartwheel. We all have to start somewhere!

And as Vashti's teacher told her when she finished that first dot, "Sign it!"

This little book is truly an inspiration, and the kids loved it. I want my own copy!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Help your kids learn creativity March 11, 2004

By George Eliot

Format:Hardcover

Reynolds does a fantastic job showing how someone can be creative or artistic and not even know it. I picked up this book at an elementary book fair first because I thought it was well written and illustrated. Second because I want to help my children realize they have hidden talents. And third because my husband is an art teacher in high school and his students are constantly telling him they can't draw.

This book not only teaches that anyone can be artistic but it teaches that creativity is not something only some of us are born with - it is something we all have inside of us, we just need to find a little bit of inspiration to bring it out. In Vashti's case, it was her teacher framing her dot and hanging it by her desk.

I recommend this book for anyone: kids, adults, teenagers.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Story and Author February 10, 2005

By Kerri J. Bryant

Format:Hardcover

My second grade class LOVES this story and have carried over the message of being proud what you do into their writing as well as drawing. The author Peter Reynolds came to speak at our school and was wonderful. He held the students attention and was very inspirational. I highly recommend all of his books, he writes great fables with a positive message.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars El Punto! March 5, 2006

By Timothy Hernandez

Format:Hardcover

Peter H. Reynolds has crafted a simple but inspiring story that recognizes the creativity in everyone and shows how simple words can inspire that creativity. This is a book for all those people who have been told they can't by someone, because it proves that imagination lies within us all and that we only need hear it from someone so that we may begin to believe it ourselves. Reynolds reminds us of the powerful influence of teachers and their ability to challenge the preconceived notions we might hold about ourselves, encouraging us to dream and turn those dreams into reality.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Delightful Book February 26, 2004

By Lane Young

Format:Hardcover

Vashti thinks she's a terrible artist. Her art teacher challenges her to draw a dot. When Vashti sees her finished dot on display behind the teacher's desk, she decides she can do better. The beautifully simple illustrations add to this sweet book about finding hidden talents.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Ageless Appeal! September 18, 2003

By Pam Tish

Format:Hardcover

This book actually has an ageless appeal to all of us who feel 'I'm not an artist'. I'm a middle school art teacher, and it also charmingly shows how a gentle nudge by a teacher can start a snowball of creativity!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The perfect gift February 13, 2007

By Kimberly Swanger

Format:Hardcover

Anyone who works with children and reaches out to give them a sense of self-worth deserves this book as a gift. It is simple, gentle and touching. The Dot is the story of a child who is frustrated with the artwork she makes until a teacher tells her simply, "sign it". That small interaction gives the girl the confidence to take chances and grow until, ultimately, she's the one saying "sign it". This book speaks to the idea that teachers really do touch eternity...they never know where their influence will stop. If you have a favorite teacher, give him/her this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazingly inspirational! July 11, 2005

By D. Campbell VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

A fabulous book. For those of us that never got beyond drawing stick people it's a revelation! What is art can all depend on ones perspective. I think it's great for ALL ages!