Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Dotty Spotty Doodles
Illustrator: Barroux
Nonfiction Drawing Book
For ages 4 to 6
Barefoot Books, 2008 ISBN: 978-1846862328
Having some kind of art form in one’s life is important for people of all ages, but it is especially important for young children. Children who draw, color, and doodle often develop the skills that they need to learn how read and write while they are creating art. They also exercise those creativity muscles that will surely make their lives richer when they are older.
In this book children will find a variety of drawing exercises that are fun to do and that allow them to use their creativity as well. Each double page spread focuses on a theme, and there are two pictures to complete in some way. On the first spread we get to visit a lion’s den at the zoo. Children are first asked to color in the bars of a cage, and then they are invited to color in the mane of a lion using any color they like. They can use a rainbow of colors if they feel so inclined.
On the next spread children attend a polka dot party. The first page shows white circles that are arranged on a red background. Children are asked if they can “fill all of these white circles with lots of polka dots.” On the facing page we see a picture of a girl who is picking cherries. The problem is that the cherries on the tree are pink instead of red. Children are asked to make the cherries red and to “give the girl a big smile.”
Other themes found in the book include “Color play,” “Fishy friends,” “Dots and Spots,” and “Fun with stripes.”
This is the prefect book to share with young children as if will provide them with hours of creative entertainment, and it will help them develop their literacy skills at the same time.
