“Make your mark and see where it takes you.” With those encouraging, creativity-freeing words, Peter H. Reynolds gives us all a gentle challenge to unleash our own creativity and see where it takes us.
If you have read Peter’s wonderful picture book The Dot, you will know that a little gentle encouragement from her teacher started Vashti on a wonderful journey of discovering that she could be creative, and could own her brand of creativity.
Quoting from the book,
“Her teacher smiled. “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.”
Vashti grabbed a marker and gave the paper a good, strong jab. “There!”
Her teacher … pushed the paper toward Vashti and quietly said, “Now sign it.”
On September 15th, 2009, teacher Terry Shay introduced his class to this powerful book, and encouraged his students to make their mark by creating their own “Dot.” This small beginning has grown into an International movement that so far this year will involve 122 countries, and millions of children and adults making their mark, creating their own Dot and celebrating their creativity — all thanks to Peter H. Reynolds, his book character Vashti, and an insightful and encouraging teacher, Terry Shay, who brought the book to life.
On September 15th or thereabouts — or as Peter would say, on the 15th-ish — I encourage you, your kids, everyone you know to get in touch with your creativity a bit. Create a Dot of your own. Make your mark in whatever way works for you, and see where it takes you.
Edited to add: Please check out my friend and writing/blogging colleague Patricia Tilton’s post! She gives more of the history of the Day as well as a challenge to all kidlit bloggers! Here’s the link.
Here’s a retrospective of the Dots I’ve made over the past few years.
2014
2013
2012
Find out more about International Dot Day and join the fun on:
the International Dot Day website
or on Facebook
on Pinterest
on Twitter
the website Celebri-Dots, where authors and illustrators make their mark,
and here’s a link to the book that started it all! The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.
I hope you’ll come back to my blog next week for another post about Peter H. Reynolds!
How will you make your mark this year?
I have been meaning to join this dot campaign. Perhaps I will get around to joining in this year! Love the post.
I hope you will, Niamh! It’s an amazing celebration of creativity.
So happy to see your post on Dot Day. Glad you shared your past dots. I’m hoping more bloggers post a dot. My post about Dot Day runs tomorrow.
Thanks, Pat! I’ll look for your post tomorrow!
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