A review by pippinhart
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

5.0

The edition currently for sale at Barnes and Nobles (Barnes and Nobleses?) across the country has the words, "Make a mark and see where it takes you," on the inside flap. The spontaneity of art is all well and good, but I believe the most important words in the book are, "Please...sign it." In these words there is audacity, an entitlement of being. Upon creation of a work of any kind, you say with a signature, "This is my name. And this is what I've done." This deserves to be seen and I deserve to have credit for it. This work deserves to exist. This work deserves to have been made. And if that is the truth of signatures, than a signature is the enemy of, "I'm not good enough." My school counselor read this to us in fourth grade, and Vashti's story taught me that behind the simplest works of art, there is a complex story, and a complex human being that had to sign their name, and had to believe that their work deserved to be made. Her story taught me that simplistic art is art, and that the first step to believing in it is to sign your name.