Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

 

Peter H. Reynolds captures particular ideas in such a beautifully simple way, his straight forward books can be life changing. In the way that the slightest of redirections can lead you to a very different destination. As in: If you always look at things the same way, you'll never see them differently, turn your head just a bit, and the view is delightfully varied and diverse. 

I feel I'm not making any sense, let's just say this is a review-ish...

Ramon loved to draw.

Any time.

Anything.

Anywhere.

One day, Ramon was drawing a vase of flowers.

His brother, Leon, leaned over his shoulder.

Leon burst out laughing.

"WHAT is THAT?" he asked.

I think we've all been there at some point in our lives, even if it's not with drawing, or anything particularly creative. Sometimes people laugh at, or don't understand things that we have worked very hard on. And that can really throw us off. 

Ramon has trouble finishing drawings, he just can't make them look "right" until he finally gives up. 

Then he sees his sister has taken a scrunched up piece of paper and he chases her back to her room where he is met by a veritable gallery of smoothed out discarded drawings. Including the vase that started it all.

This is one of my favourites,"

Marisol said, pointing.

"That was SUPPOSED to be a vase of flowers,"

Ramon said,

"But it doesn't look like one."

"Well it looks vase-ISH!" 

she exclaimed. 

Enter the slight change in seeing things. With the freedom of 'ish' Ramon launches back into his drawing knowing that things don't have to be "right" or "perfect" but can be an expression and still be considered valid and good. 

It's this type of book that alleviates the weight of the world from your shoulders.

 

4.5 Gold Stars

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So Few Of Me by Peter H. Reynolds

When I found this picture book, I felt it had been written for me. Surely Peter H. Reynolds had somehow found out what I was like and wrote a book about me, changing names to protect the innocent and the guilty...

But, apparently, I'm not the only one.

I list things. I am a little crazy about it too. I write lists for work, as most people do, but then I develop further lists and half the time an item on the main one will be "do other list" until I've pretty much got a list of lists.

During Uni semester I write a weekly list of what needs to be done that week. 

When I've got any length of time off approaching, I always make a list of things I'd like to achieve by the end. Heaven forbid I be unproductive! I've made lists of things that I could do that are pure procrastination. I've made lists of things I want (books, dvds, cds etc.) regardless whether they get referred to again or not.

And it's not just unfinished or to-do things that get listed. I have a excel spreadsheet of books I've read. I keep a list of every movie that I watch, so I know if, when, and how often I've watched any particular title.

Anyway, what is this? a review? or confessions of a list-a-holic?

So Few Of Me is brilliant!

Leo's List of things to do

grew longer and longer.

"So few of me and so much to do. 

If only there were TWO of me."

Just then, there was a

knock at the door.

I wonder how many times I've had that thought.

Then Leo begins to multiply which achieves and creates more and more work. I think my favorite page is:

Five Leos were still not enough.

A sixth came in to help organize them all. 

After a long meeting, they decided

they needed a seventh.

Then the original Leo becomes exhausted and decides that he wants to take some time to dream.

Leo wondered,

"What if I did less -

but did my BEST?

Which is sometimes what I have to tell myself.

This is a picture book for children of all ages. Even grown up ones, like myself, that feel they must be working ALL the time.

 

5 Gold Stars

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