The Dot, Reynolds / Realistic Fiction

Title: The Dot

Author/Illustrator: Peter H. Reynolds
Genre: Realistic Fiction 
Awards: The Christopher Award
Ages: 2nd +

Summary:
Vashti is in art class feeling defeated as she tells her art teacher that she just cannot draw. The teacher dares Vashti to make a mark, to try anything, on the paper. Vashti makes a small dot and signs her name. The art teacher hangs this drawing and encourages Vashti to continue making marks. Soon Vashti has a whole art gallery of her dots and even inspires those around her to make their marks as well. 

Illustrations:
Peter Reynolds illustrations in this book are all in black and white except for the beautiful dots of Vashti's art. I love this artistic choice. He really demonstrates his ability to create a world of ink sketched drawings illustrating Vashti and her school. The dot art is beautiful and shows how inspiring just a little bit of encouragement can be for young students. 

In the classroom: 
This book portrays a very inspiring situation that could be recreated in nearly any classroom. Vashti's teacher makes a mark in Vashti's life by inspiring her to try just as Reynolds says his teacher did. This book has a special message for every classroom that anyone can be an artist, all you have to do is try. It is an uplifting and encouraging story that could push every student who encounters it to try something new and look for beauty in everything they do.