Review - Ish

Ish (Creatrilogy)
by Peter H. Reynolds
Date: 2004
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: library

A creative spirit learns that thinking "ish-ly" is far more wonderful than "getting it right" in this gentle new fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book The Dot.

Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere.

Drawing is what Ramon does. It¹s what makes him happy. But in one split second, all that changes. A single reckless remark by Ramon's older brother, Leon, turns Ramon's carefree sketches into joyless struggles. Luckily for Ramon, though, his little sister, Marisol, sees the world differently. She opens his eyes to something a lot more valuable than getting things just "right." Combining the spareness of fable with the potency of parable, Peter Reynolds shines a bright beam of light on the need to kindle and tend our creative flames with care.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

Another book in the Creatrilogy, Ish is the story of Ramon and his quest for perfection. I read The Dot in 2019 and really enjoyed it. Ish is similar in its themes and has a lovely message.

Ramon loves to draw. He draws all the time (perhaps even in places where he shouldn't). One day, he's trying to draw a vase of flowers when his older brother laughs. Ramon loses his confidence and spends the next few months trying to get that vase drawing absolutely perfect. When he can't, he gives up. But then he realizes his little sister's been keeping all his reject drawings, placing a value on them that Ramon didn't even know they had. Sometimes perfection isn't necessary. Sometimes, making something "ish" is all you really need to do.

If you enjoyed The Dot, you'll probably like this story, too. I need to see if I can find Sky Color to complete reading the trilogy.

Quotable moment:

"Vase-ISH?"

Ramon looked closer. Then he studied all the drawings on

Marisol's walls and began to see them in a whole new way.

"They do look... ish," he said.

Premise: 5/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 4/5
Illustrations: 4/5
Originality: 5/5

Enjoyment: 4/5

Overall: 4.33 out of 5