The Dot
Book Description
By the end of art class, Vashti is still staring at a blank piece of paper. Rather than reprimanding her for not participating, her teacher encourages her to make a mark and see where it takes her. I love this book because it reminds readers of all ages that we all have to start somewhere. Sometimes the bravest and most necessary thing you can do is just try. And is there any better question to ask a child (or an adult for that matter) who feels stuck or frustrated by something than, “What can you turn this into?”
You can grab your copy of The Dot here.
Connecting Texts
Usually this is the section of the blog where I help readers connect with nonfiction texts, but today I want to share another work of fiction.
Marianna May and Nursey by Tomie de Paola: This is a book I remember from my own childhood. Our school librarian read it to us somewhere around first or second great, and the story stuck with me forever. I was overjoyed to rediscover it at my local library with my own girls. In this story, Marianna May loves to be creative and make messes, but she only owns fancy white dresses. It causes quite a stir at her privileged home where Nursey, her nanny, and her maid cook up a plan to make cleaning her clothes easier so that poor Marianna can go back to being a kid. I highly recommend it!
Craft and Discussion Questions
For our craft this week, we practiced starting with simple shapes and turning them into a larger scene or picture. Your kids (especially if very young like mine) may need help showing them how this works, but it is fun to do even as an adult. For example, you can turn a simple circle into someone’s face, the sun in the sky at the beach, or a tomato. Activities like this help kids stretch their brains and develop flexible thinking skills. These skills pay off big time as they get older and have to find creative solutions to their problems!
You can grab the free craft/shape templates and discussion questions here.
Field Trip Connection
We will be heading to the National Gallery of Art this week for our book-related field trip. One of the best things about living near Washington, D.C. is the Smithsonian’s collection of museums that are all 100% free to the public. The National Gallery is an amazing stop for art lovers of all ages. The Garden Cafe in the West Building is a great place for a quick, lovely meal and will keep you cool if visiting on a hot day. The indoor fountain adds a touch of luxury to an outing with your kids. Should we choose to eat there this week, I am quite sure my girls will be ordering the crepes. The Pavilion Cafe by the Sculpture Garden is a short walk from the museum and has great outdoor seating on a nice day. The girls and I have eaten here many times over the years. In the winter, the pond out front is set up as an ice rink, too!
Can you tell that I love the National Gallery and the National Mall?! If you haven’t been recently, book a trip!
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