One Potato Review

This and Reynolds’ Ish have become little cult classics since they were published in 2003 and 2004 respectively, and not without merit. The author since published a couple of other beautiful looking stories that weren’t about art, and weren’t nearly so memorable. Maybe it’s noteworthy that here in the first of these bookends a girl who can hardly get anything done sees herself clear to fulfillment, while in Ish the boy who starts out prolifically sketching quickly finds himself in a rut. This is an artist writing (and drawing and painting) about the unlikely sources of artistic inspiration in a way that sounds personal as well as simply, deeply relevant to every kindergartner who could not get passionate about the regular art room assignment. There are lots of ways to be artistic apparently, the more personal the better. For second, third, and higher graders too.