What is a Dot?

What is a Dot? Written by Johanna Bell, illustrated by Amelia Luscombe (Thames and Hudson) PB RRP $24.99 ISBN 978-1-760-76481-4

Reviewed by Sylvia Forbes

What is a dot ... when a dot is not? From the moment you open the front cover of this picture book, you're off on a fun-filled romp across its ten glossy white pages. When it ends on the inside back cover, it is on a positive and empowering note.

What is a Dot? is based on a simple, easy-to-understand concept for a young audience, with enough interest and complexity to be found as your child becomes more verbal and explorative.

Is it a swish? A sweep? Or a swirl? 

Is it a scurry? A wave? Or a pearl?  

Johanna Bell has created a charming, engaging, short, and sweet text. Cleverly crafted with a rhythmic rhyming stream of questions, What is a Dot? will invite your child's active participation and spark their curiosity and imagination. 

Sophisticatedly simple illustrations by Amelia Luscombe work in concert with the text. On page one, a large stand-alone dot is introduced. Then, the illustrations are created without a break from page two onwards. Each one formed and linked continuously together by a colourful, (essentially) singular, ongoing line. Highly stylised, somewhat abstract, sometimes partially drawn, yet every element, as informed by the text, remains identifiable. This connection goes from page to page and cover to cover. Wherever the line leaves off on a page, the following page's artwork resumes.

I can almost imagine - like with a ball of string - that if I could pull the end of the line - or the beginning - I could roll the illustrations back into a ball. Or a dot. 

Little fingers will want to trace over the rainbow-coloured line, thrilled to explore and discover all the images it forms. 

I love the scribbles with the objects and creatures hidden within them, and where the text asks if you can see or find them. Children love seeking out and recognising hidden elements and pouncing on them with triumph and glee once found.

Explore the joy of drawing 

in this lively book where a dot can

be anything you want it to be. 

Books like What is a Dot? are crucial in comparison and competition. They convey the message that there is no right or wrong answer—the answer is everything and anything—it is as unique as you are, and you are in charge. 

Wonderful for reinforcing a child's own uniqueness, creativity and expression, this picture book is perfect for budding little artists from the moment they can hold a pencil, put it to paper, and make a mark. After all, isn't a line of any size and shape just a series of dots holding hands?

This is an excellent collaboration from these two creatives. Rainbow pencils and colourful crayons will be put to work after sharing this book! It’s suitable for a wide readership - from 6 months plus.