NY Times Best-Selling Author Peter H. Reynolds Partners with the Boch Center’s Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame for International Dot Day
Events to be held in Boston’s Boch Center/Wang Theatre on September 22 and October 24
BOSTON, MA – As millions of people around the globe are preparing to celebrate International Dot Day this month, New York Times #1 best-selling children’s book author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds – whose best-selling picture book The Dot inspired the worldwide event – is coming to the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame, Boston’s new cultural destination, located in the Boch Center’s iconic Wang Theatre.
On Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022 at 10 a.m., Reynolds will be joined in-person by up to 100 students and educators from Boston Public Schools’ Josiah Quincy Elementary and again on October 24 at 10 a.m with students from Chelsea Public Schools. Thanks to a generous donation from Somerville, MA.-based children’s book publisher Candlewick Press, every child will be receiving a free copy of The Dot picture book. While the events are not open to the public, they will be livestreamed and recorded to share broadly with schools, teachers and community groups. Press is invited to attend.
“The Boch Center is the perfect site for celebrating creativity in all forms – with a signature focus on music,” said Reynolds. These events are part of the Center’s expanded programming and its Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) which celebrates the history of Folk, Americana and Roots music through displays, lectures, artifacts, concerts, exhibits, and more.
In addition to celebrating The Dot, these events will highlight one of Reynold’s newest projects and recently illustrated Peace Train picture book. Earlier last year, Reynolds illustrated and released the Peace Train picture book in collaboration with Yusuf/Cat Stevens. Yusuf/Cat Stevens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014, and his albums have reached triple platinum and Billboard #1 status. The Peace Train song, which is a cry for peace and understanding, was released on the Teaser and the Firecat album in 1971, and it became Stevens’ first US Top 10 hit. Upon this book’s release, Stevens shared, “It’s incredible to see how Peter Reynolds has made the words jump into life in brilliant style for a new generation with his joysome illustrations.” Yusuf/Cat Stevens will join the events by video, and he will share his hopes with the students personally.
Globally-acclaimed performance artist Yusuf/Cat Stevens performed at the Wang Theatre over 6 separate occasions – one of the most for any musician playing this venerable stage — making the Wang Theatre a particularly fitting backdrop for the occasion. Boch Center’s President and CEO Joe Spaulding shares, “The Peace Train book and Reynolds’ focus as an author and illustrator who is known internationally for celebrating creativity made it a “no-brainer” for FARHOF and the Boch Center to host this event as the first of many.”
Peace Train and The Dot will be highlighted, and Reynolds will be reading to and talking with young Boston students and their teachers about the importance of being brave enough to use one’s creativity to make their mark on the world and to help move it to a better place.
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About the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame
In 2019, the Boch Center expanded and launched the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame (FARHOF) which celebrates the lifeblood of America’s musical and cultural heritage. Folk music provides an outlet for individuals of all races and backgrounds to express their highest joys and deepest sorrows.
Led by legendary musicians and music executives including Keb Mo’, Joan Baez and Noel Paul Stookey, FARHOF is dedicated to honoring history, while also building the foundation of the next generation of Folk, Americana, and Roots musicians. Housed in the Wang Theatre, FARHOF celebrates Folk, Americana and Roots music through displays, memorabilia, artifacts, events, lectures, exhibits and concerts.
About the Boch Center
The Boch Center is one of the nation’s leading nonprofit performing arts institutions and a guardian of the historic Wang and Shubert Theatres. As New England’s largest cultural venue, the Boch Center is home to theater, classical and popular music, dance, comedy, opera, Broadway musicals, family entertainment, and more.
Located in Boston’s historic Theater District, the Boch Center also offers a diverse mix of educational, cultural and community outreach initiatives, including the City Spotlights Leadership Program and the Folk Americana Roots Hall of Fame; collaborates with artists and local nonprofit arts organizations; preserves historic venues; and acts as a champion for Greater Boston’s arts and cultural community. Learn more at bochcenter.org.
About The Dot Book
The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, is an invitation to students to be creative, and experience a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing. International Dot Day began when Terry Shay, a teacher in Iowa and his students decided to celebrate the book’s birthday – and, little did they know, launched what would become a worldwide celebration of creativity and courage to “make your mark.”
Exploring the themes of creativity, bravery and self-expression, The Dot is a story of a perceptive and caring teacher who reaches a reluctant student who thinks she can’t draw by encouraging her to be brave enough to “just make a mark and see where it takes you.” The Dot is part of the 3-book Creatrilogy series, which also includes two other best-selling picture books: Ish, and Sky Color.
