According to Publishers Weekly, the fifth annual International Dot Day, inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’s The Dot (Candlewick), drew nearly 620,000 participants at more than 15,000 events worldwide on Saturday, September 15.
Reynolds led the festivities in his hometown of Boston, along with mayor Thomas Menino. But some celebrations were held in schools on the Friday before, while others will take place next month. Taken together, Dot Day will be feted across seven continents – yes, including Antarctica. As a result of the interest, The Dot Club Web site, which had served as the headquarters for Dot Day events, was relaunched earlier this week as a year-long resource for educators and families to support “creativity with a purpose.”
In The Dot, a caring teacher encourages a reluctant student to trust in her own abilities and be brave enough to “make a mark and see where it takes you.” Reynolds says, “It’s amazing to see that so many people around the world are finding inspiration to transform teaching and learning through creativity. I hope Dot Day will help to remind people that creativity and arts aren’t educational ‘extras’ – they are essential to the inventive problem-solving the world needs today.”
The Dot is the first book in Reynolds’s Crea-Trilogy, which also includes Ish, about a creative spirit who learns that thinking “ish-ly” is more important than getting things just right. The third volume, Sky Color, was just published by Candlewick and is being produced as ananimated film by FableVision and Scholastic’s Weston Woods.
Reynolds led the festivities in his hometown of Boston, along with mayor Thomas Menino. But some celebrations were held in schools on the Friday before, while others will take place next month. Taken together, Dot Day will be feted across seven continents – yes, including Antarctica. As a result of the interest, The Dot Club Web site, which had served as the headquarters for Dot Day events, was relaunched earlier this week as a year-long resource for educators and families to support “creativity with a purpose.”
In The Dot, a caring teacher encourages a reluctant student to trust in her own abilities and be brave enough to “make a mark and see where it takes you.” Reynolds says, “It’s amazing to see that so many people around the world are finding inspiration to transform teaching and learning through creativity. I hope Dot Day will help to remind people that creativity and arts aren’t educational ‘extras’ – they are essential to the inventive problem-solving the world needs today.”The Dot is the first book in Reynolds’s Crea-Trilogy, which also includes Ish, about a creative spirit who learns that thinking “ish-ly” is more important than getting things just right. The third volume, Sky Color, was just published by Candlewick and is being produced as ananimated film by FableVision and Scholastic’s Weston Woods.
Nancy,
ReplyDeleteWhat an inspirational event and book! Thanks for sharing.
Warm regards,
Donna
Thanks, Donna, for your comment. Yes, it's evident that kids love it, and they are on to something here!
DeleteI don't recall ever hearing of International Dot Day before. Sounds like an interesting event. Thanks for sharing about it.
ReplyDeleteNeither had I, Susanne, but thought it was an interesting concept built around the book. Not a bad marketing idea, either...
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment.
Thanks for sharing this info, Nancy. I'm a believer that a well-rounded "liberal arts" education helps shape creativity in every field. My daughter is artistic and hopes to pursue that career. I hope she can, but if she can't, I know she will incorporate art and creativity into whatever work she does.
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