The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Title: The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

Genre: Picture Book, Children Literature, Fiction

Award: The Christopher Award

Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner

Ages: 5-8 years old

I never heard of the story, "The Dot," by Peter H. Reynolds before, and neither did I know existed a day called International Dot day. I thought this book was amazing and the idea of International Dot day was pretty cool. I really enjoyed the book because it really demonstrates in how a teacher's reassurance to a student can impact a student's life in the long run by simply believing in the student. I really enjoyed the fact, in how the student,Vashti, was frustrated in class because she did not know how to draw, but the teacher reassured her to make a mark and then she hung her drawing on her wall. The teacher praised, Vashti's dot, even though it was a simple dot. After Vashti saw his dot on the teacher's wall, it made Vashti want to keep drawing more circles. I loved how Vashti just kept drawing circles with so much passion to the point that her art went on the gallery wall, and someone else looked up at her art. Then, the boy who looked up at Vashti's art did not know how to draw either, but Vashti made the boy believe in himself, just like the teacher had done with her before. 

Book Evaluation: 

1) This book is one of those books that I would recommend to my students and teachers because it is very inspiring for teachers and students. 

2) The appropriate grade level would be Kindergarten to Third grade class.

3) I would include this book into a unit of Art project. I would first read the book out loud to them, and include water painting colors after their read out loud time. I really enjoyed painting on a canvas. I am not a creative person, but this opportunity allowed me to explore my creativity. This project made me feel in a soothing environment.