A creative spirit learns that thinking “ish-ly” is far more wonderful than “getting it right” in this gentle fable from the creator of the award-winning picture book The Dot . Ramon loved to draw. Anytime. Anything. Anywhere. Drawing is what Ramon does. It's 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. SELF-AWARENESS PreS-Gr. 2. Reynolds' previous book, The Dot (see Top 10 Arts Books for Youth on p.497), imparted an important message to kids about the various ways in which art can be defined. This has a similar message, but unlike the character in The Dot , who doesn't believe she can draw, Ramon loves to draw. In fact, he draws wherever he can, even on the toilet. But after his older brother laughs at his work, Ramon loses confidence; none of his drawings look right to him anymore. He's about to quit drawing when his sister shows him that she has kept all his crumpled efforts. Now he understands that though he doesn't draw exact replicas (his trees are only "tree-ish"), the response his art engenders is what matters. It's likely that fewer children will identify with Ramon than with the girl in the previous book, but this certainly has a strong message, and the overriding theme about creativity versus exactitude will resonate with many. The line-and-color artwork is simple, but it has great emotion and warmth. Kids will respond to that, too. Ilene Cooper Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved ISH . . . encourages readers to see the world anew . —School Library Journal (starred review) Reynold's minimalist pen-and-ink illustrations feature subtle washes of watercolor and ample splashes of emotion and humor. A tidy lesson in the importance of thinking — or drawing — outside the box and believing in one's own abilities despite others' reactions. —Publishers Weekly The overriding theme about creativity versus exactitude will resonate with many. The line-and-clor artwork is simple, but it has great emotion and warmth . Kids will resond to that, too. —Booklist A lovely tale. . . . Told in spare prose with Reynolds' signature line drawings in watercolor, ink, and tea, ISH will encourage other little artists . —Kirkus Reviews Certain to bolster self-esteem and encourage children to follow their creative impulses. —Scholastic Parent & Child Adults as well as children will want to linger over the pages. —Houston Chronicle 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. "Nothing irks me more that seeing a person's creativity get shut down. Through my books, I want to help give kids - and grown-up kids - the vocabulary to protect their exploration, in art, writing, and thinking." - Peter H. Reynolds Peter H. Reynolds  is a  New York Times  best-selling illustrator who has created many acclaimed books for children. In addition to his Creatrilogy —  The Dot, Ish,  and  Sky Color  — he is the author-illustrator of  Rose’s Garden, The North Star, and  So Few of Me  and the illustrator of Megan McDonald’s Judy Moody and Stink series. Born in Canada, Peter H. Reynolds now lives in Dedham, Massachusetts.