This is Jenn Delperdang, with the Sioux City Public Library and you're listening to Check It Out. Today, I am recommending the trilogy of children's books written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds dedicated to creativity and helping kids realize their potential - The Dot, Ish, and Sky Color. The Dot is the first book of the "creatrilogy" series where we meet a girl named Vashti who has convinced herself that she cannot draw. Her teacher dares her to make a mark. Vashti makes one little dot on her sheet of paper which turns out to be the beginning of her creative journey. But according to the author, The Dot is more than a book about art. It is a book that encourages us to be brave about expressing ourselves. It gently reminds us to start small and explore the IDEA. It is also a tribute to great teachers who know how to use humor, "off-the-path" approaches, and who have the vision to see the possibilities in EVERY student. The Dot's companion story, Ish, introduces us to Ramon, the young artist who loves to draw, but after his older brother laughs at his work, Ramon loses confidence in his abilities. He's about to give up drawing when his younger sister helps him to see his talent in a different way, showing him that being creative doesn't have to be just right. In Sky Color, the whimsical story and colorful illustrations encourage children to paint what they actually see, rather than repeating the visual conventions that they have learned. Stop by the Sioux City Public Library to check out The Dot, Ish, Sky Color, and other inspiring children's books by Peter H. Reynolds, and while you're here, signup for this year's Summer Reading Program. For more information on The Dot, and how to celebrate International Dot Day which takes place every year around September 15-ish, visit The Dot Club dot-org.
Support for Check It Out comes from Avery Brothers.
