Totally Booked with Zibby: Peter H. Reynolds, THE DOT

Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Peter H. Reynolds

Episode Overview

In this inspiring episode, Zibby Owens sits down with Peter H. Reynolds, renowned author and illustrator of “The Dot,” to delve into his extraordinary career, the philosophy behind his beloved works, and the global phenomenon that is International Dot Day. They explore creativity, community, the power of encouragement, and the impact of words—all wrapped up with Peter’s signature warmth and positivity.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Creative Drive and Partnership with His Twin

• Nonstop Creativity: Peter describes his mind as “popcorn… it’s popping in my head the whole time” (04:28).
  • Quote: “Anytime I'm having a conversation, just ideas are popping and I try to write them down so I don't forget.” —Peter ([04:28])
• Twin Synergy: Peter credits his active, purpose-driven life to his bond with his twin brother, Paul.
  • Quote: “If you plan on having a busy life, you should be born a twin.” —Peter ([04:53])
• Nonprofit Work: Together they run the Reynolds Center for Teaching, Learning, and Creativity (Reynolds TLC), focusing on spreading creativity globally ([05:24]).

2. The Origin and Message of “The Dot”

• Real-Life Inspiration: The story was sparked by a first grader who told Peter, “I just can’t draw.” Shocked, Peter was motivated to create a story focused on building self-confidence in children ([06:39]).
  • Quote: “A first grader saying she can't draw… that like broke my heart…” —Peter ([06:46])
• The Story’s Arc: Vashti, guided by her teacher, transitions from believing she “can’t draw” to becoming a creative inspiration to others.
• Creativity Is for Everyone: The metaphor of the dot represents much more than art; it’s about taking risks, discovering gifts, and the ripple effect of encouragement.
  • Quote: “We can all be teachers and can encourage each other… the book really is about confidence and… much bigger than an art book.” —Peter ([09:34])

3. International Dot Day: A Global Movement

• Origin: Inspired by a classroom’s “birthday party” for “The Dot,” the celebration spread globally via word of mouth and now reaches over 190 countries ([11:07]).
  • Quote: “It kept snowballing like a dot, I guess—and it has now become International Dot Day.” —Peter ([12:15])
• Meaningful Impact: International Dot Day affirms for kids worldwide that they aren’t alone in valuing creativity and that small acts can add up to global change.
  • Quote: "Every dot created is a dot for peace… If we can connect all these little dots of peace that will make this planet… a more peaceful place." —Peter ([13:13])

4. The Evolution of “The Dot” Across Media

• Growth Beyond the Book: “The Dot” has inspired a musical, an animated film, and vast creative engagement.
  • Quote: “There’s a difference between reading a book and activating a book… teachers know how to hang on to that book…” —Peter ([18:55])

5. The Power (And Future) of Creating by Hand

• Concerns About AI: Peter expresses support for tech, but worries that reliance on AI may dim our impulse to create ourselves.
  • Quote: “One of our superpowers as humans is to imagine and not forget… I hope people still find [drawing/creating] to be a delightful, magical thing.” —Peter ([19:48])
• Writing for All Ages: Peter shares that though he’s known for picture books, he truly writes “for humans who need a little bit of inspiration” ([22:47]).

6. Collaborations & Bookstore Ownership

• Love for Teamwork: Peter has collaborated on about 80% of his 100+ published works, notably with Susan Verde (“I Am” series) ([21:31]).
  • Quote: “I just love helping other people tell their stories, encourage them…” —Peter ([22:47])
• The Blue Bunny Bookstore: For 22 years, Peter’s store in Dedham, MA has been a community fixture, supporting “grown up kids” and children alike ([21:51]).
  • Quote: “Our job is not to take people’s money… your number one goal is to make humans happy.” —Peter ([24:59])
  • Memorable Moment: Peter shares a story of trusting a customer who forgot her wallet, which ended with her returning, paying, and gifting them brownies ([25:30]).

7. The Importance of Community and Role Modelling

• Rooted in Family: Creativity, generosity, and civic engagement were built into Peter’s upbringing in a home full of books and creative “chaos.”
  • Quote: “Creativity is messy… I called it creative chaos.” —Peter ([28:29])
• Lessons for Parents: Peter advocates that modeling behaviors like reading and bravery are key for raising creative, resilient kids.
  • Quote: “If we want our kids to be creative, we have to show them what it looks like…” —Peter ([30:23])

8. New Work: “The Gift of Words”

• Sequel to “The Word Collector”: With returning character Jerome, this story highlights the power of positive words, especially in challenging times, using a festive theme where good words are garlanded on a holiday tree ([31:18]).
  • Quote: “Hate is a lot louder than love and kindness, so we kind of have to amp up the positive words.” —Peter ([33:27])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Anytime I'm having a conversation, just ideas are popping and I try to write them down so I don't forget.” —Peter ([04:28])
• “If you plan on having a busy life, you should be born a twin.” —Peter ([04:53])
• “A first grader saying she can't draw… that like broke my heart…” —Peter ([06:46])
• “We can all be teachers and can encourage each other… the book really is about confidence.” —Peter ([09:34])
• “Every dot created is a dot for peace… If we can connect all these little dots of peace that will make this planet… a more peaceful place.” —Peter ([13:13])
• “There’s a difference between reading a book and activating a book…” —Peter ([18:55])
• “Our job is not to take people’s money… your number one goal is to make humans happy.” —Peter ([24:59])
• “If we want our kids to be creative, we have to show them what it looks like…” —Peter ([30:23])
• “Hate is a lot louder than love and kindness, so we kind of have to amp up the positive words.” —Peter ([33:27])
• Memorable moment: Peter’s bookstore story of trust and kindness ([25:30]).

Key Timestamps

• [03:44] Introduction and Peter's creative process with his twin brother
• [06:39] The real-life story behind “The Dot”
• [11:07] Genesis of International Dot Day
• [13:13] The global reach and mission of Dot Day
• [18:21] The expanding legacy of “The Dot”
• [19:48] Thoughts on AI, technology, and creativity
• [21:31] On collaboration, Susan Verde, and the joy of picture books
• [21:51] The Blue Bunny Bookstore: philosophy and stories
• [28:29] The impact of Peter's upbringing on his values
• [30:23] Parenting by example
• [31:18] Introduction of “The Gift of Words”
• [33:27] The importance of positivity and kindness today

Takeaways

• Creativity is universal and essential: Peter’s work serves as a heartfelt plea to nurture creativity in ourselves and others, regardless of age or skill.
• Encouragement is transformative: Small acts of support and belief can have lifelong, global impact.
• Community in a digital age: Bookstores, collaborative spaces, and events like International Dot Day offer tangible, irreplaceable connections.
• Intentional kindness matters: Whether through words, actions, or simply holding open a space for creativity, positivity is both contagious and necessary.

Closing

Peter and Zibby wrap up with mutual admiration, invitations to each other's bookstores, and an open call for listeners to join in spreading positivity—both through Dot Day and in their own communities. The episode reaffirms that stories, creativity, and kindness can make the world a better place, one dot at a time.