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49th out of 936 books
—
644 voters
The Dot
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 inv...more
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 inv...more
Hardcover, 32 pages
Published
September 15th 2003
by Candlewick Press
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It was one of the most impressive picture books I have ever read. It encourages not only children but also adults to start something they are interested but hesitated to do. All of other his books are also so impressive and encouraging. This book is encouraging about painting a picture and tells us that we can paint picture, even if we are not professional, and by doing that, it result in something you never imagined. The pictures and painting are cute and funny, so it's worth to seeing.
Add The Dot to my list of favorite books! As someone who can regularly be heard denouncing any ability to draw, stay inside the lines of coloring pages, or paint something that doesn’t result in a murky blob, Peter Reynolds’ simple fable about personal creativity and artistic acceptance has filled me with hope.
Vashti believes she cannot draw, but when her teacher gently tells her to “just make a mark,” she jabs at a blank sheet of paper and signs her name. The next week, her art teacher has fram...more
Vashti believes she cannot draw, but when her teacher gently tells her to “just make a mark,” she jabs at a blank sheet of paper and signs her name. The next week, her art teacher has fram...more
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Awesome book! if you have not read do it! It really makes you want to go out and try something new that you think you might be bad at, but you never will know if you don't try!
Summary-
Vashti is very frustrated in her art class and by the time class is over she has nothing on her paper. She says she doesn’t know how to draw, but her teacher tells her she needs to put something on her paper so she slaps a small dot in the middle of the page. Her teacher then tells her she must sign her name at the...more
Summary-
Vashti is very frustrated in her art class and by the time class is over she has nothing on her paper. She says she doesn’t know how to draw, but her teacher tells her she needs to put something on her paper so she slaps a small dot in the middle of the page. Her teacher then tells her she must sign her name at the...more
Grade/interest level: K-2
Reading level: 500L
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Main Characters: Vashti, teacher
Setting: School
POV: Third Person
Summary:
Vashti is in her art class, frustrated at the fact that she does not know how to draw. She stares at her paper in anger. Her teacher approaches her and tells her to put anything at all on her paper. Vashti angrily stabs her paper with a pencil and creates a tiny dot in the middle of her page. Her teacher urges her to sign her name, which she does. The next...more
Reading level: 500L
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Main Characters: Vashti, teacher
Setting: School
POV: Third Person
Summary:
Vashti is in her art class, frustrated at the fact that she does not know how to draw. She stares at her paper in anger. Her teacher approaches her and tells her to put anything at all on her paper. Vashti angrily stabs her paper with a pencil and creates a tiny dot in the middle of her page. Her teacher urges her to sign her name, which she does. The next...more
Genre: Picture Book, Concept
Summary: Vashti just can't think of anything to draw until her teacher dares her to try, and what develops is a surge of self discovery.
A. The representation of the teacher in this book makes me, as a teacher, want to strive to want more for my students.
B. Vashti is feeling uncreative and defeated as art class comes to a close. However, her teacher knows there is more that Vashti has to give and by giving her just a little push, Vashti can see her true potential. I lo...more
Summary: Vashti just can't think of anything to draw until her teacher dares her to try, and what develops is a surge of self discovery.
A. The representation of the teacher in this book makes me, as a teacher, want to strive to want more for my students.
B. Vashti is feeling uncreative and defeated as art class comes to a close. However, her teacher knows there is more that Vashti has to give and by giving her just a little push, Vashti can see her true potential. I lo...more
This fun, light-hearted book demonstrates the power of positive influence. Rather than dismissing or giving up on Vashti and her artwork, her teacher encourages her to explore her potential. Even a simple dot can be seen as art, and the teacher demonstrates pride in Vasthi's dot when she has Vashti sign the sheet and take ownership of her work. To use a common teacher phrase, Vashti is recognized as "at promise" rather than "slow" or "behind" or "struggling". The teacher's encouragement leads Va...more
Jan 28, 2012
Alex Alfaro
added it
I thought it was interesting that a book focusing on art has such simple illustrations. Like the tone of the story, the illustrations slowly get brighter and more colorful, but for the most part, they are simple and gray. The book starts off with a frustrated student who thinks that she is bad at art. However, instead of telling Vashti that her work will improve, Vashti’s art teacher accepts the simple dot that she drew, asks Vashti to sign it, and then frames her artwork. By framing Vashti’s wo...more
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 inv...moreWith a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative a...more
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 inv...moreWith a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative a...more
From School Library Journal: -"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 ta...more
I really liked this book. It is useful to teach so many things.
Quick overview: A student, Vashti, who does not want to do her artwork because she believes she cannot draw, simply turns in a single dot for her project. After appreciation and encouragement from her teacher about the artwork, Vashti starts experimenting with her art. She creates a gallery of "dot" art. In the end she shows off her work and even passes her wisdom to a fan of her art.
This book is great for the students and the teac...more
Quick overview: A student, Vashti, who does not want to do her artwork because she believes she cannot draw, simply turns in a single dot for her project. After appreciation and encouragement from her teacher about the artwork, Vashti starts experimenting with her art. She creates a gallery of "dot" art. In the end she shows off her work and even passes her wisdom to a fan of her art.
This book is great for the students and the teac...more
Summary:
Art class was over and Vashti was sad because her piece of paper was completely blank. The teacher said"Ah! A polar bear in a snowstorm!" Vashti didn't laugh. (Feeling: Sad Conflict: Person vs. self/person vs. person)
The art teacher told Vashti to draw a dot. Vashti jabbed a dot. "Now sign it" the teacher ordered. (Feeling: Confused Conflict: Person vs. Person)
The next day Vashti went in the art room and saw her drawing of the dot and her name signed, framed in a swirly gold frame. "Hmm...more
The problem with an old teacher is she has so many experiences that connect to almost anything anywhere anytime. And The Dot reminds me of a time when I was teaching first graders, and I encouraged them to paint. I gave them each of the primary colors one color at a time. The day I gave them two was the day of discovery, like the girl in the book. But more importantly, to the chagrin of the principal, I displayed all paintings. Each little artist enjoyed the experience from the girl who drew a t...more
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Read this one when it came in to the library as a return today.
At the end of class, Vashti is still sitting in her desk with a blank sheet of paper and no idea what to draw. Her teacher tells her to just make a mark and see where it takes her. So she takes a breath and makes a single dot in the center of her paper. Her teacher responds, "sign it, please." The next day the picture is framed on the teacher's wall. Inspired, Vashti becomes a fantastic artist using ... dots. At the end, a little bo...more
At the end of class, Vashti is still sitting in her desk with a blank sheet of paper and no idea what to draw. Her teacher tells her to just make a mark and see where it takes her. So she takes a breath and makes a single dot in the center of her paper. Her teacher responds, "sign it, please." The next day the picture is framed on the teacher's wall. Inspired, Vashti becomes a fantastic artist using ... dots. At the end, a little bo...more
The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, is the inspiring story of Vashti, a young girl with no confidence in her ability to draw.
When her teacher encourages her to just 'make a mark and see where it takes you,' Vashti responds by stubbornly jabbing her pen into a piece of paper. The teacher doesn't miss a beat, by calmly asking her to sign under her 'dot', and the next time Vashti sees the paper, it has been put in a gilded frame. Still defiant, she resolves to show her teacher she can do an even better...more
When her teacher encourages her to just 'make a mark and see where it takes you,' Vashti responds by stubbornly jabbing her pen into a piece of paper. The teacher doesn't miss a beat, by calmly asking her to sign under her 'dot', and the next time Vashti sees the paper, it has been put in a gilded frame. Still defiant, she resolves to show her teacher she can do an even better...more
I have read this book and really enjoyed it. The dot is a simple book that explores the huge problem of children thinking that they are unable to draw but Peter Reynolds makes it an entertaining tale. "I just can't draw!" says Vashti. Her sensitive teacher shows her a way to explore making art without getting hung up on details. Her first step is to get Vashti to make a mark on the paper, the second step is to have her sign it, and the third is to frame it; there's the art market in a nutshell....more
This is the story of one girl who, through the simplest of beginning points, comes to realize that she has her own unique affinity for artistic expression.
Vashti is a girl who knows that her artistic skills do not favorably compare with those of many of her well-endowed peers, but her art teacher is unwilling to let her accept that oversimplification as a blanket appraisal of her ability to create. Vashti's teacher gives her a starting point that to Vashti seems not like a real starting point...more
Vashti is a girl who knows that her artistic skills do not favorably compare with those of many of her well-endowed peers, but her art teacher is unwilling to let her accept that oversimplification as a blanket appraisal of her ability to create. Vashti's teacher gives her a starting point that to Vashti seems not like a real starting point...more
Feb 15, 2012
Brianna
added it
This is a great book for students who are struggle with self-confidence issues or thinking the are not good enough to do something. It tells the story of a little girl in art class who thinks that she can't draw, so he teacher tells her just to draw a dot and sign it. Vashti does so but still doesn't feel good about it until the next week she goes into art and see that the teacher has framed her work. This little act inspires her to create more works of art and stretch her creativity far beyond...more
Dec 02, 2009
Ann
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Katie
Shelves:
childrens-stories,
picture-books
Another delightful story by Reynolds, in a very similar vein as Ish (which I absolutely adored!).
Here we find a young child who "Can't draw" anything. Supposedly. But when the teacher gets our protagonist to draw a dot and then "sign it" - well, one thing leads to another and the dots become more and more elaborate.
This is a great book to inspire creativity in kids who think they "can't" something. If the beauty of art is in the eye of the beholder, then this illustrates that so long as you're e...more
Here we find a young child who "Can't draw" anything. Supposedly. But when the teacher gets our protagonist to draw a dot and then "sign it" - well, one thing leads to another and the dots become more and more elaborate.
This is a great book to inspire creativity in kids who think they "can't" something. If the beauty of art is in the eye of the beholder, then this illustrates that so long as you're e...more
6 likes · like · see review
This is a great little story on the topic of subtle motivation of children. A little girl thinks she can't draw so she refuses to try. The teacher in the story cleverly recognizes all childrens' creative inclinations and showcases the girl's artwork. This fosters confidence in the little girl. She in turn begins to love art and help others find their own inspiration.
I am drawn to this book from the point of view of both an educator and artist. I am always concerned that we as teachers foster a l...more
I am drawn to this book from the point of view of both an educator and artist. I am always concerned that we as teachers foster a l...more
The Dot is one of my favorite books of all time. I nearly cried the first time I read it. It is the lovely story about a girl that does not feel like she can create art until her art teacher frames her signed pictured of a dot.
This book could be used to show students that they can have opinions that change. The girl thought she was not an artist, yet by the end of the book she felt she was an excellent artist. The girl gained a great amount of self-confidence from creating many pictures with do...more
This book could be used to show students that they can have opinions that change. The girl thought she was not an artist, yet by the end of the book she felt she was an excellent artist. The girl gained a great amount of self-confidence from creating many pictures with do...more
Jan 24, 2012
Katie Ellis
added it
I loved this book because it showed how you can see beauty and provide a kid with confidence by doing something so easily! I also love how at the end, Vashiti is seen as a great artist by one of her peers and then uses the same instructions the art teacher gave her to the little boy. The illustrations in this book showed how Vashiti's artwork changed overtime and all the different kinds of dots she drew. The protagonist started out as saying "can't" and had self esteem issues when it came to her...more
This was a great book for students who are doubting themselves when it comes to anything school related or anything in life in general. The main character says the infamous words, "I can't," when she is asked to draw a picture for art class. With a little boost from her teacher, she finds that she is able to draw, and even goes above and beyond by entering her work in an art show. She goes on to inspire and encourage other students who are feeling the same way that she did before she created her...more
Technically, I didn't read this one; it was read to me by the author at the MLA Youth Services Section meeting.
1) It's lovely having authors deliver the keynote speeches at librarian events. Everyone likes to be told how wonderful and necessary they are for an hour or so.
2) If you ever have the opportunity to see Peter Reynolds speak or, better yet, host him in your school/library, do it. Do it now! Stop reading this review and go!
3) You know, sometimes I think the simplest books may be the most...more
1) It's lovely having authors deliver the keynote speeches at librarian events. Everyone likes to be told how wonderful and necessary they are for an hour or so.
2) If you ever have the opportunity to see Peter Reynolds speak or, better yet, host him in your school/library, do it. Do it now! Stop reading this review and go!
3) You know, sometimes I think the simplest books may be the most...more
This is a fun lighthearted book with simple illustrations, and for the uncreative amongst us it encourages us to explore creativity.
Art class is over but one child hasn’t made any marks on her paper, however, her teacher just smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."
The child makes a single dot mark and the teacher encourages her to sign it. The next week, the art teacher has framed the dot, and the action sets the child on a journey of artistic freedom and self-discovery that help...more
Art class is over but one child hasn’t made any marks on her paper, however, her teacher just smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you."
The child makes a single dot mark and the teacher encourages her to sign it. The next week, the art teacher has framed the dot, and the action sets the child on a journey of artistic freedom and self-discovery that help...more
Jan 24, 2012
Hana Doran
added it
The illustrations of this book really add another dimension to the book. While they look more like rough sketches, the colors used in the backgrounds represent the different moods and emotions of the main character, Vashti, as he struggles with conventional drawing. One day, he just creates a dot on a page, and his teacher encourages him to pursue this theme further. He eventually ends up producing some complex artwork, solely created from dots and colors. Meanwhile, he encourages his fellow pee...more
Great book that inspires children to attempt something that they are afraid they can't do. Utilize this book for lessons that students may typically shy away from in hopes that they will give it a go. An exercise that can be done after reading this book is to have students brainstorm on a time when they were afraid to try something new. It could be a food, riding a bike or other activity; then write about how they felt once they completed the activity. Teacher could ask if they still participate...more
This was such a cute book. It would be a great book for teachers to read to students who were having problems with accepting themselves or their work. It is about an artist who doesnt like their work. They draw a dot and their teacher frames it. They realize that they can do a much better dot. So once they sit and start working they do tons of beautiful dots! Another child comments on how beautiful their work is and how they wish they could do work like that. And they say you can draw something....more
Vashti, a little girl who believes she cannot draw is shown the power of art when her art teacher has her sign a simple dot and then frames it. Seeing that her teacher believes in her, her creativity is unleashed. At the art show, Vashti passes this newfound freedom of expression onto another child who does not believe he can draw. This story shows that one act of kindness can have boundless repercussions. It also teaches that you can do anything if you believe in yourself. This would be a good...more
While the message it provides is a good one and the pictures are nice, the story for all three of the books in the trilogy (The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color) is very slight. A frustrated kid discovers a love of art by drawing dots (The Dot), and a teased kid accepts the fact that his drawings are beautiful even if they're not perfect (Ish), and an artistic child must look outside the box and reexamine her world to paint a sky that isn't blue (Sky Color).
Art fans might enjoy these as they reinforce go...more
Art fans might enjoy these as they reinforce go...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OPE Leader In Me: Book of the Month - September | 1 | 2 | Sep 20, 2012 10:47am | |
| 9LIT EHSC | 13 | 21 | Jan 18, 2012 09:04pm |
Peter Hamilton Reynolds is an author and illustrator of children's books and is the co-Founder and CEO of educational media company FableVision.
More about Peter H. Reynolds...
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