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kelboo's review
4.0
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 Vasthi to explore her own artistic skill, talent, and enjoyment through nothing more than dots, and Vashti discovers a variety of ways to make them. Best is when another student admires her artwork enviously, and Vashti, seeing herself in this other student, encourages him to explore his own artistic talent in his wiggly lines.
This book is enjoyable for everyone, young and old, but particularly powerful for children who are also at promise and perhaps struggling with their self-confidence in a particular area of difficulty.
This book is enjoyable for everyone, young and old, but particularly powerful for children who are also at promise and perhaps struggling with their self-confidence in a particular area of difficulty.
lilmatt050's review
4.0
I read about this picture book through Ali Wong’s book recommendations and I figured how much I find her to be comedy legend so why not check this book out from the public library and it was super cute. I believe it does send a powerful message disgusted in its simplistic storytelling. I always hear it from adults all the time: oh I wish I learned how to play the guitar, the piano, I always wanted to draw but wasn’t good at it, etc. which tells me that no one helped cultivate their interest or rather believe in them to take up a challenge or hobby.
In this case Vashti was in art class and couldn’t paint or draw anything. She believe she’s a failure and clearly not an artist but then her art teacher tells her “just make a mark on the paper and see where it takes you” and all that was able to achieve was a dot which the teacher told her to sign her name. Next day she sees that her teacher has framed her dot artwork and that sense of confidence and belief in her talent, she begins to explore different colors dots to the point that she forgets that all was able to achieve the other day was a simple dot. With that sense of inspiration she passes it on to other kids who feel like they can’t draw either.
I believe that is beautiful to tell a simplistic story with a powerful message. You don’t have to be a creative genius to explore different outlets of art but never limit yourself and your creativity. It is literally never too late to pick up the guitar, piano, or art and learn to appreciate yourself and sense of exploration and freedom that involves with art.
In this case Vashti was in art class and couldn’t paint or draw anything. She believe she’s a failure and clearly not an artist but then her art teacher tells her “just make a mark on the paper and see where it takes you” and all that was able to achieve was a dot which the teacher told her to sign her name. Next day she sees that her teacher has framed her dot artwork and that sense of confidence and belief in her talent, she begins to explore different colors dots to the point that she forgets that all was able to achieve the other day was a simple dot. With that sense of inspiration she passes it on to other kids who feel like they can’t draw either.
I believe that is beautiful to tell a simplistic story with a powerful message. You don’t have to be a creative genius to explore different outlets of art but never limit yourself and your creativity. It is literally never too late to pick up the guitar, piano, or art and learn to appreciate yourself and sense of exploration and freedom that involves with art.
booking_along's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
beautiful and inspiring even in its simplicity.
very well done!
very well done!
kennedymorin's review
4.0
A simple story that lets you know that everyone can be an artist, you just have to start. I'm taking one point off because while I really loved the story, I found the "handwriting" typeface hard to read and I would need to practice reading it several times before I felt comfortable doing it for a Storytime (I am dyslexic so take that into account).
jnmfly's review
5.0
For all those teachers out there who feel like they can't do art, you need to read this book!
susanreadstheworld's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0