What is a Dot?

What is a Dot? (Thames & Hudson) Johanna Bell and Amelia Luscombe PB (Board Book) RRP $24.99 ISBN 9781760764814

Reviewed by Karen Hendriks

What is a Dot is a board book that explores the joy of drawing, showing that a dot that becomes a line can be anything. It sparks a child’s curiosity and imagination. Themes are imagination, art, drawing, creativity, poetry, and rhyming verse.

Johanna Bell writes fiction, poetry and children’s books. Her work is widely published, and she has won numerous awards, including a Tasmanian Literary Award for the manuscript of Department of Vanishing. What’s That Splat? is the sequel to this book.

Amelia Luscombe’s illustrations focus on fun, curiosity, and childlike qualities. This is her first picture book.

Bell’s use of rhyme, alliteration, onomatopoeia and word play spark curiosity and wonder in a young child. Is it a bounce? A ball? Or a wag? The text is creative, unique and fun. It allows so much scope for the illustrator with its open word choices. Is it a swish? A sweep? Or a swirl? The word choices are concise, and many of the sentences are two or three words long. So much is left to the child to discover themselves. The book asks the reader this question throughout: What is a dot when a dot is not? The text reads aloud joyfully, and Bell’s background as a poet shows. The verbs used highlight movement as the dot and line change form and move through the story.

Luscombe has fully embraced the fun of the story and let her imagination out to play with her simple yet striking line drawings.  I love how hidden objects are created that are not voiced in the text. Like one, two, three ice-creams. The line is multi-coloured and changes colour as it moves through the book. The illustrations stand out on the white background and draw the eye immediately. I think Luscombe was the perfect illustrator choice for this story, which is a celebration of drawing.

What is a Dot? is great for children 3-9 years. It encourages creativity and self-expression and is perfect for preschool to early primary readers. It is a wonderful resource for classroom discussions about art, shapes and imagination. Parents, carers and teachers alike will enjoy sharing this book.