Reviewing: “Dots, Dots, Dots!” by Esther Friedman. Independently published. 2023. English. Paperback. 35 pages. ISBN-13: 979-8392419586.

“Express yourself.” An idea that so many parents hope to instill in their young children to give them the confidence to always be themselves. Esther Friedman’s new children’s book, “Dots, Dots, Dots!,” delivers this message in the thoughtful and uplifting story of a young girl and her journey of self-discovery and individuality.

In the beginning of the book, the main character, Dotty, proudly explains how she loves to wear dots, describing her closet filled with only spotted clothing. But when she wakes up one morning, she decides that she doesn’t want to only wear dots anymore, and goes to find new clothing to express herself. At the store, Dotty happily picks pieces in all different patterns, excited to be able to mix and match however she likes. With her new wardrobe, Dotty feels that each outfit she puts on reflects different parts of herself, and is proud to showcase her unique sense of style.

“Clothing is such a big part of who we are,” Friedman said, “and we should be able to use it to build our confidence and express ourselves the way we want.” As an avid reader, Friedman has always believed that a meaningful story can have a tremendous impact on its readers, and “Dots, Dots, Dots!” does exactly that.

Dotty’s decision to wear clothing with different patterns comes with a new level of self-confidence that Friedman feels is important to instill in children. “If you give kids confidence when they’re young, they can conquer the world.” Each new outfit that Dotty puts on allows her to express herself in a different way, but the story’s conclusion reminds the readers that the most important part of what you wear is that you feel good in it. “I love me in all the outfits I wear. I hope you do as well,” Dotty says.

Not only does Dotty’s story teach the value of expressing oneself through clothing, but it also conveys the message that it’s OK to change. Both at the beginning of the story when she only wore dots, and at the end with her new wardrobe, Dotty is happily wearing what she feels good in. Just because only wearing dots made her happy for a while, that does not mean that she isn’t entitled to change her mind, and Dotty does so proudly.

Throughout the book, continuing the theme of dots, all of the words and pictures are surrounded by circles as a reminder that just as each circle is complete, so is each person. “If you believe in yourself, and know that God’s with you, you can do anything,” Friedman said.

Parent educator and leadership coach Laura Goldman finds the book’s lessons invaluable. “Children, now more than ever, need to feel proud of the beautiful souls that they are. ‘Dots, Dots, Dots!’ encourages children to accept, love and reveal their multifaceted selves—and to recognize and appreciate the same in others”

Illustrator Arielle Hadad, Friedman said, helped bring her vision to life. Hadad is a self-taught artist from New York City. Hadad’s passion lies in painting and sculpting, but she has recently ventured into the world of illustration. In “Dots, Dots, Dots!” she showcases her unique talent through captivating watercolor illustrations of Dotty that will bring joy to all readers.

“‘Dots, Dots, Dots’ has a universal message,” Friedman concluded, “but every individual also takes away their own unique twist connecting to their own personal story,” which is what makes this book so special.

Friedman, mother of six, has resided in Teaneck for over 20 years. She has been involved in the grassroots organization Jewish Journeys/JInspire since its inception in 2011, engaging and learning with Jewish moms from the greater Bergen County area and traveling with them to Israel under the auspices of Momentum.

As an outgrowth of her involvement with Jewish Journeys, Friedman initiated the Bergen Great BIG Challah Bake several years ago, bringing together Jewish women from diverse backgrounds for an evening of inspiration, laughter and unity, and hosts a monthly challah bake. During the COVID pandemic she decided to combine her love of reading and passion for teaching with her desire to write children’s books.

Shira Adler is a Jewish Link summer intern and a rising junior at Stern College. She lives in Teaneck.