And of course all pictures are made with dots and lines, so the introduction of the new artist experimenting with line is apropos. I noticed the transition from the limited dark colors at the beginning to the bright sun-colored dot to the double-page spread for the mulit-colored art show at towards the end. When Vashti grabs the marker and makes her dot, it is like Jackson’s movements around his huge canvas. The representational realistic characters remind me of the illustrations Parker did for Action Jackson. His illustration style matches the text, the story, and the theme. Reynolds’ simple lines, hand lettering, and water color and tea illustrations make this a charming book of primitive art. If I ever see this principal, later superintendent, again…well. I KNEW I was philosophically oriented to a student-centered. That was early in my career, and to this day I remember that as a defining moment. Unlike the perceptive teacher in Reynolds’ story, the principal told me not to hang it the parents would be embarrassed.

Each little artist enjoyed the experience from the girl who drew a two-dimensional drawing of house with flower garden and, yes, the white picket fence, to the boy who just let red cover the whole paper and a little of the floor. But more importantly, to the chagrin of the principal, I displayed all paintings. The day I gave them two was the day of discovery, like the girl in the book. I gave them each of the primary colors one color at a time. And The Dot reminds me of a time when I was teaching first graders, and I encouraged them to paint.

The problem with an old teacher is she has so many experiences that connect to almost anything anywhere anytime.

Little Red Gliding Hood by Tara Lazar