The Dot - Peter H. Reynolds - ★★★★.¼

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AUTHOR & ILLUSTRATOR: Peter H. Reynolds
SERIES: Creatrilogy
GENRE: Children's Picture Book
PUBLICATION DATE: September 15, 2003
RATING: 4.25 stars.


In a Nutshell: A cute little picture book about taking the first step. Lovely story, morals, and illustrations. Recommended!


Plot Preview:
Vashti believes she can't draw, but a teacher puts a blank page in front of her and says, ‘Just make a mark and see where it takes you.’ The resultant dot from the jab Vashti makes on the paper begins Vashti’s journey of exploring and perfect art through dots.


I initially thought Vashti would be annoying, but she develops really well as the story progresses. I loved her imagination, enthusiasm, and determination. And as someone who adores polka dots, I also loved her artwork.

As with all great picture books, the moral is simple yet practical and essential. The story is successful in making the point without going over the top. The ending enhances the effect.

The illustrations are perfect for a book where the primary artwork is dots. In what seems to be author-illustrator Peter Reynolds’ signature style, the human characters are somewhat monochrome while the rest of the artwork is a wild splash of colours. This creates a strange depth in each graphic.

A lovely option for little creators who are hesitant about their art and also for those who believe that they aren’t creative. This picture book would be great for ages 4-9.

Fun fact: This book is the reason September 15th is celebrated as International Dot Day. Read up on it here: https://www.internationaldotday.org/

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