The Dot (Irma S and James H Black Honor for Excellence in Children's Literature (Awards))

Withasimple,wittystoryandfreespiritedillustrations,PeterH.Reynoldsenticeseventhestubbornlyuncreativeamongustomakeamarkandfollowwhereittakesus.Herteachersmiled."Justmakeamarkandseewhereittakesyou."Artclassisover,butVashtiissittinggluedtoherchairinfrontofablankpieceofpaper.Thewordsofherteacherareagentleinvitationtoexpressherself.ButVashtican'tdrawshe'snoartist.Toproveherpoint,Vashtijabsatablanksheetofpapertomakeanunremarkableandangrymark."There!"shesays.ThatonelittledotmarksthebeginningofVashti'sjourneyofsurpriseandselfdiscovery.ThatspecialmomentisthecoreofPeterH.Reynolds'sdelicatefableaboutthecreativespiritinallofus.