As simple yet stimulating as Reynolds's The Dot, this tale centers on another youngster questioning his artistic ability. Spot illustrations portray Ramon as a cheerful boy who loves to draw "anytime" (he draws in bed), "anything" (he paints pictures of trash cans) and "anywhere" (readers will giggle at the sight of him perched on the toilet, drawing pad on his lap). But his self-confidence plummets when Ramon's older brother laughs at his attempts to draw a vase of flowers ("What is that?"). After months and crumpled attempts at trying to make his pictures look "right," the frustrated child puts his pencil down, announcing, "I'm done." His younger sister runs off with one of the discarded drawings and when he chases her to her bedroom, he discovers (in a moment reminiscent of The Dot) she has created a "crumpled gallery" of his work. Pointing to his attempted rendering of the flower vase, the girl calls it "one of my favorites." When Ramon complains, "That was supposed to be a vase of flowers," she supportively responds, "Well, it looks vase-ish!" Ramon then feels "light and energized. Thinking ish-ly allowed his ideas to flow freely." Reynolds'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. Ages 5-up. (Sept.) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

A lovely tale about the trials of a budding artist brought to us by the author/illustrator of Dot (2003). Ramon creates drawings at a furious pace. Everywhere he goes, he draws. But there's nothing like a derisive older brother to put the kibosh on a sensitive artist type. Suddenly, Ramon becomes self-critical. He cannot satisfy his own desire to get things "right" anymore, so he decides to put away his pencil for good. Luckily another family member, his sister, has secretly been collecting Ramon's art for her own private gallery. She convinces him that a successful drawing need not be a perfect reflection of reality. It's okay if a house looks house-ish or a fish looks fish-ish. It is just the liberating sentiment Ramon needs to reignite his creativity. Told in spare prose with Reynolds's signature line drawings in watercolor, ink, and tea, Ish will encourage other little artists. (Picture book. 4-6)

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