School Library Journal Review

PreS-Gr 4-Children will be delighted with Peter H. Reynolds' story (Candlewick, 2003) of Vashti, a little girl who doesn't believe that she can draw. Her teacher encourages her to put a dot on a piece of paper and sign it. Then she features this picture in a gold frame. From this beginning, Vashti draws dots of all colors and sizes with different designs and patterns in watercolors. She learns a bit about mixing colors too. This process gives her an understanding of art techniques and increases her self esteem. At an art show showcasing several of her "dots," she shares her beginnings with a young boy who says he can't draw. This brief, heartwarming story emphasizes self-esteem, art concepts, and education. It also demonstrates the importance of identity in the signing of the pictures. The animated video features the artwork from the book: line drawings and watercolors using ink, watercolors, and tea. Technical quality and sound are excellent. Appropriate sound effects and musical background accompanies Thora Birch's expressive narration. Teachers and librarians will find this book useful for both art and self-esteem lessons and to encourage students in all their endeavors.-Ann Elders, Mark Twain Elementary School, Federal Way, WA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.