“The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds
The Dot is about Vashti, a girl who does not believe she can draw. In her art class, her teacher encourages her to just draw something- anything- on the paper. In retaliation, she draws a single dot in the middle of the page. Seeing value in any type of art, the teacher tells her to sign it. When Vashti next goes to art class, she sees her own dot displayed on the wall. This gives her a new perspective and she is inspired to continue creating dots of various sizes and colors. By the end, she inspires another student who does not believe that they can draw.
This book is not only a great lesson in an art setting, but any setting. The moral shows that what matters is trying your best, even if your best doesn’t seem good enough. It does not have to be beautiful, or the best thing ever made- what matters is that you give it everything you’ve got. This combats students who might be perfectionists and gives them a push to leave their comfort zone every once in a while.
Author’s Website: Peter H. Reynolds
Read Aloud: https://youtu.be/sg-aGFsOk1I?si=VjOVC__xK6fMhgeJ
