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Dot, Dot, Polka Dot
A board book that explores all the different types of vibrant fabric patterns found in the patchwork of a child’s quilt.
In this eye-popping, stylish board book from artist and graphic designer Morissa Rubin, young readers are introduced to the shapes and movement of different fabric patterns that come together to form a child’s quilt.
From the swirling spirals of calico and the tidy diamond lines of argyle, to the brilliant blocks of kente cloth and Uroko’s fish-like scales, Dot, Dot, Polka Dot treats children to a colorful tour of popular designs from around the world, while teaching them their unique names.
In this eye-popping, stylish board book from artist and graphic designer Morissa Rubin, young readers are introduced to the shapes and movement of different fabric patterns that come together to form a child’s quilt.
From the swirling spirals of calico and the tidy diamond lines of argyle, to the brilliant blocks of kente cloth and Uroko’s fish-like scales, Dot, Dot, Polka Dot treats children to a colorful tour of popular designs from around the world, while teaching them their unique names.
- GenresPicture Books
28 pages, Board Book
Published November 29, 2022
103 people want to read
About the author
Morissa Rubin
1 book5 followersMorissa Rubin is a graphic designer. Her debut children's book Dot, Dot, Polka Dot is published by POW! Kids Books, December 2022. She received her BFA from RISD and her MS from MIT’s Visible Language Workshop. Morissa lives in Sacramento where she teaches typography and other design courses at UC Davis and Sac State. You can follow her work on https://www.instagram.com/morissa.s.c....
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 22, 2021
In Dot, Dot, Polka Dot, Morissa Rubin has created a beautiful exploration of fabric patterns and color. I had the good fortune to be able to read an advance copy of this book and boy do I wish it had been available when my child was young!
Each page contains a whimsical drawing and a gorgeous sweep of color and pattern with plenty of detail to keep the book interesting on multiple rereads - so important when you're choosing a picture book you might end up reading to your little one (what feels like) several thousand times!
The few words of text on each page are great jumping off points to talk about the patterns and hunt for details, and as a fun bonus, you can keep an eye out for pattern swatches from every previous page as they collect around the page edges over the course of the story. This is a book I would have been happy to read over and over to my kiddo when he was little.
Each page contains a whimsical drawing and a gorgeous sweep of color and pattern with plenty of detail to keep the book interesting on multiple rereads - so important when you're choosing a picture book you might end up reading to your little one (what feels like) several thousand times!
The few words of text on each page are great jumping off points to talk about the patterns and hunt for details, and as a fun bonus, you can keep an eye out for pattern swatches from every previous page as they collect around the page edges over the course of the story. This is a book I would have been happy to read over and over to my kiddo when he was little.
October 31, 2021
A vibrant board book that should have your child’s mind swirling with shapes and patterns from around the world. It would be fun to practice doodling in these styles after reading this with a child. And dot, dot, polka dots are the perfect place to start.
April 22, 2021
A great book teaching children about different fabrics from different areas of the world. Teaching them about textures and colors, all in a visually beautiful illustrations.
December 17, 2022
This colorful, fun book will engage little ones with its short, lyrical lines. I love how fabrics from around the world are brought together to create a cozy quilt. Lovely message and something different from the usual board books for this age category.
December 12, 2022
pretty darn cute, superior illustration.
December 2, 2022
Bold shapes, vivid colors, and rich vocabulary pepper this energy-filled book. Rubin’s striking illustrations complement her carefully chosen text to make this a playful page turner for all to enjoy.
November 22, 2022
Such a colorful, playful, almost singing book. Very much enjoyed the seamless page-turners and the end-result is the icing of the cake.
December 2, 2022
Dot Dot Polka Dot
A wonderful board book for teaching shapes. Gorgeously illustrated with fun words to say out loud. Perfect new baby gift. The vivid colours and lively patterns provide a feast for eyes, while the fun read aloud text will help little ones learn new words about fabrics. Morissa Rubin's dazzling artwork and and lyrical prose combine for the perfect board book. Don't miss this one.
A wonderful board book for teaching shapes. Gorgeously illustrated with fun words to say out loud. Perfect new baby gift. The vivid colours and lively patterns provide a feast for eyes, while the fun read aloud text will help little ones learn new words about fabrics. Morissa Rubin's dazzling artwork and and lyrical prose combine for the perfect board book. Don't miss this one.
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January 23, 2023This vibrantly illustrated book by Morissa Ruben is perfect for babies, toddlers, and anyone wishing to learn more about textiles. With an added cultural element, this is the perfect introduction to fabrics, shapes, and popular worldy designs. Highly recommend!
February 25, 2023
This seemingly simple board book explores, page turn by turn, familiar and global/cultural patterns of nature and fabrics with lively text, bold images, and an edge accumulation of swatches that foreshadows a gratifying ending. The opening/title turn that features dots is followed by efficient and enticing text and image-rich examples of stripes, plaid, calico, argyle, kente cloth, kawung fruit, gingham, uroko triangles, paisleys, molas, and tie-dyes.
This is a feast for the eyes and ears, sparking curiosity and providing vocabulary to recognize and label the many patterns that are human-made as well as identifying those in our lived environment. There are just enough hints within the minimal text to suggest ways that little (or bigger) hands might make patterns using stamps, bits, even collage techniques to make this a must-have addition for those teaching/leading art and craft groups of any age.
Each pattern is represented by a small square fabric swatch, which caught my eye immediately, since I'm a lifelong fan of quilts. (This is evident in prior posts celebrating quilts HERE, HERE, and HERE.))These swatches accumulate along one edge of each double spread, reminding me of ways in which quilters scatter, shift, and adjust their layouts, savoring the interactions of color and pattern with an eye to making the whole greater than the sum of the parts. "Separate pieces come together" is the next-to-last turn in which thread begins to attach one swatch to the next on a background featuring many of the patterns introduced. The final spread celebrates them all when the line-drawn character is tucked under a patchwork quilt, topped by a snuggling calico cat, with polka-dotted boots and hat safely stowed nearby.
I particularly appreciated the global/cultural inclusion and celebration of patterns, as well as the richly robust vocabulary. This book is likely to find fans throughout the day and at bedtime, providing young ears with repetitive familiarity and context for words to describe their own worlds. While many board books are worthy sources for developing language and concepts related to color and shape, this is a rich source that embeds endless opportunities for such language. it's a treasure chest of entertainment and development for families, libraries, early childhood groups, and those seeking support for English language learning and/or speech/language development. It is even a great choice for dedicated (or beginning) quilters who could well display it as a table-top book of sorts or share with younger family members. Other ideas? Please share them in comments. It has been a while since I lost myself for hours in the fabric aisles, but this book just might lead me back there soon!
This is a feast for the eyes and ears, sparking curiosity and providing vocabulary to recognize and label the many patterns that are human-made as well as identifying those in our lived environment. There are just enough hints within the minimal text to suggest ways that little (or bigger) hands might make patterns using stamps, bits, even collage techniques to make this a must-have addition for those teaching/leading art and craft groups of any age.
Each pattern is represented by a small square fabric swatch, which caught my eye immediately, since I'm a lifelong fan of quilts. (This is evident in prior posts celebrating quilts HERE, HERE, and HERE.))These swatches accumulate along one edge of each double spread, reminding me of ways in which quilters scatter, shift, and adjust their layouts, savoring the interactions of color and pattern with an eye to making the whole greater than the sum of the parts. "Separate pieces come together" is the next-to-last turn in which thread begins to attach one swatch to the next on a background featuring many of the patterns introduced. The final spread celebrates them all when the line-drawn character is tucked under a patchwork quilt, topped by a snuggling calico cat, with polka-dotted boots and hat safely stowed nearby.
I particularly appreciated the global/cultural inclusion and celebration of patterns, as well as the richly robust vocabulary. This book is likely to find fans throughout the day and at bedtime, providing young ears with repetitive familiarity and context for words to describe their own worlds. While many board books are worthy sources for developing language and concepts related to color and shape, this is a rich source that embeds endless opportunities for such language. it's a treasure chest of entertainment and development for families, libraries, early childhood groups, and those seeking support for English language learning and/or speech/language development. It is even a great choice for dedicated (or beginning) quilters who could well display it as a table-top book of sorts or share with younger family members. Other ideas? Please share them in comments. It has been a while since I lost myself for hours in the fabric aisles, but this book just might lead me back there soon!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2023
What a fun book to read with all of its colorful shapes and patterns. Although the book is primarily written for the youngest of children, I find it inspiring for creatives of any age. It's a great introduction to fabrics and general patterns for the littles but also for an artist that wants to remember various patterns and ways to put them together. This book reminds me of a friend who made herself a tiny quilt and then created a blouse from that quilt. A must read for the littlest of creative minds.
January 3, 2023
Dot, Dot, Polka Dot by Morissa Rubin is a wild adventure through the world of fabric patterns. Follow the jubilant characters as they explore paisley, plaid, polka dots and more—what might the pieces become? This richly illustrated narrative of pattern and design will encourage young readers to explore the fabrics of their own lives. What a perfect gift for young artists and art appreciators! Every art class should have one!
January 18, 2023
"Dot, Dot, Polka Dot" is such a fun read. Every time we read it at home, we find something new to discover on each page. The creative, colorful illustrations/pages make this a book my children look forward to every day. This book will be added to our library and will make a great gift for friends and family. Highly recommend!
June 9, 2024
This was a wonderful fabric and pattern primer. I knew the basics like stripes, polka dots, argyle, paisley, and gingham, but there were several others I either had never heard of or never associated the word with the pattern. I picked up this beautiful picture book at the library with my daughter, but I certainly learned something new.
January 13, 2023
What a gorgeous board book as patterns, familiar and unusual, fill every page. The simple text - with a lovely culmination - identifies what we see, but it is the designs on each page that make this a book to pour over and enjoy.
January 17, 2023
What a fun read! I loved diving into this world of color and shapes. Morissa brings a bouncy upbeat language that intertwines perfectly with the vibrant expressive artwork. A fantastic board book for little ones to learn all about shapes. Thanks for sharing this story, Morissa!
January 21, 2023
Creative, colorful illustrations bring exuberant patterns to to the page in a celebration of the fabric of our lives. Lyrical, energetic text plays on the page and begs to be re-read. It's a lovely addition for every bookshelf!
January 28, 2023
A visually stunning and absolutely delightful board book, filled with bright colors and shapes, and varied patterns created in different parts of the world. Appealing and engaging, this is a perfect choice for little ones of all ages.
May 3, 2023
This fun board book is all about patterns that are commonly found (stripes, dots, paisley, gingham, calico, uroko triangles etc…) It’s sturdy enough for toddlers to play with, and the colorful bright illustrations are also great.
March 1, 2023
A sweet book with fun patterns, bright colors, and simple text. Great for kids!
April 2, 2024
such a clever way of celebrating culture
May 6, 2024
Various (less often talked about) patterns are used to make a vibrant quilt for a child.
A little over-stimulating.
A little over-stimulating.
March 14, 2023
Dot, Dot, Polka Dot is a delightful board book introducing young kids (and anyone reading with them!) to a variety of different fabric patterns that go beyond dots and stripes to include calico, plaid, paisley and more.
The text is simple and bouncy enough to entertain toddlers, while at the same time even adults can learn new things about patterns from around the world (I know I did!)
This board book is a vibrant breath of fresh air in an overcrowded market of colour and shape books, and as such feels unique and exciting.
Author-illustrator Morissa Rubin has successfully combined a sing-song, informative text with eye-catching pictures to create a book that would be ideal for both home and daycare settings, as well as making a perfect baby shower or new baby gift. Highly recommended!
The text is simple and bouncy enough to entertain toddlers, while at the same time even adults can learn new things about patterns from around the world (I know I did!)
This board book is a vibrant breath of fresh air in an overcrowded market of colour and shape books, and as such feels unique and exciting.
Author-illustrator Morissa Rubin has successfully combined a sing-song, informative text with eye-catching pictures to create a book that would be ideal for both home and daycare settings, as well as making a perfect baby shower or new baby gift. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews