The Dot

Peter H. Reynolds

BookEarly ChildhoodElementaryArtist

About

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.

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Why it’s great

Vashti’s single, brave dot blossoms into a gallery of possibilities, proving to young readers that every masterpiece starts with a mark. The spare text and watercolor art model how simplicity can be powerful. Teachers and parents love its built-in takeaway: “sign it, frame it, and keep going.” A confidence booster for any child who’s ever said “I can’t draw.”

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Resource Details

Resource Type: Book
Age Ranges: Early Childhood, Elementary
Careers: Artist
Subjects:

Book Details

Author: Peter H. Reynolds