The Dot

An enchanting invitation to self-expression — from the illustrator of the Judy Moody series.

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.

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.

"[An] engaging, inspiring tale....Reynolds's spare, wispy illustrations exude a fresh, childlike quality pleasingly in sync with his hand-lettered text. Offering a balance of subtlety and hyperbole, this small-format volume should give reticent young artists a boost of confidence." Publishers Weekly

"This small gem of a book tells the story of Vashti...and a marvelous lesson about what art is." Washington Post Book World

From the illustrator of the Judy Moody series comes a simple, witty story that entices even the stubbornly uncreative to make a mark and follow it on a journey of surprise and self-discovery. Illustrations.

Peter H. Reynolds was a reluctant reader but an incessant doodler as a child. "I often visit classrooms and ask who loves to draw," he says. "In kindergarten and first grade, all the hands go up. In second grade, most of the hands go up. In third grade, half the hands are up. By fourth and fifth grade, most of the hands are down, or perhaps pointing to 'the class artist.' It's sad to see the artistic, creative energy slowing down, being packed away. I am convinced it's because children learn early that there are 'rules' to follow. But when it comes to expressing yourself, you can invent your own rules. You can change them, you can stretch them, or you can ignore them all and dive headfirst into the unknown." The illustrator of the Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald, Peter H. Reynolds was recently honored as Literacy Leader of the Year by Verizon. He is the president and creative director of FableVision Studios.