Just So Stories

Thames & Hudson

April 2025

ISBN: 9781760764814

RRP: $26.99

What is a dot when a dot is not?

Is it a swish? A sweep? Or a swirl?

Is it a scurry? A wave? Or a pearl?

I was SO keen to see this because I’m such a huge fan of Hervé Tullet and his always imaginative, playful work for kiddos. This has exactly that same vibe and will bring joy wherever you share it.

Rainbow pencils or stackable crayons will be needed in quantity once you start sharing this one because all your Smalls will want to try their hand at turning a dot into a line into a swirl or a curl, a square or a bear, a face or outer space – who knows where their imaginations will take them?

Inspired by Swiss-born German artist, Paul Klee’s quote: ‘a line is a dot that went for a walk’, this pair of creatives have created an explosion of colour, line, squiggles, curves, shapes and objects that will both fascinate kiddos and provide hours of subsequent entertainment.

Most Smalls will create art without any inhibitions, but we know that creativity and imagination are often ruthlessly stamped out by external factors and regimentation. I love that when I visit classrooms, especially at my local Lutheran primary, I see the children’s art work expressing themselves and their thoughts, wishes and dreams without any restrictions.

And here is just a snippet of my favourite TED talk ever with the late, great Sir Ken Robinson on this very topic. It might be a good time to revisit this one in full. And a peek at Tullet’s inspirational work as well. This is a book that is not just charming and engaging, but provocative and a perfect springboard to many exciting creative adventures in your teaching space. It easily gets a 5 ✏️✏️✏️✏️✏️ rating from me.