Students at Growing Minds Preschool, 17999 W. Surprise Farms Loop South, in Surprise, celebrated International Dot Day Sept. 15 with creativity and laughter.

Child care coordinator Amy Benton went around the school and read “The Dot,” a children’s book by Peter H. Reynolds.

Afterwards, she invited students to draw dots on her dress to make a one-of-a-kind canvas. Students also painted their own colorful dots.

Teacher Terry Shay introduced his classroom to the Reynolds story Sept. 15, 2009, and began International Dot Day to celebrate creativity, courage and collaboration.

The children’s story is about “a caring teacher who dares a doubting student to trust in her own abilities by being brave enough to ‘make her mark,’” noted the website internationaldotday.org.

What begins with a small dot on a piece of paper became a breakthrough in confidence and courage, igniting a journey of self-discovery and sharing, which inspired countless children and adults around the globe.