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The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics
Once upon a time there was a sensible straight line who was hopelessly in love with a beautiful dot. But the dot, though perfect in every way, only had eyes for a wild and unkempt squiggle. All of the line's romantic dreams were in vain, until he discovered . . . angles! Now, with newfound self-expression, he can be anything he wants to be--a square, a triangle, a parallelogram. . . . And that's just the beginning! First published in 1963 and made into an Academy Award-winning animated short film, here is a supremely witty love story with a twist that reveals profound truths about relationships—both human and mathematical—sure to tickle lovers of all ages.
80 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1963
About the author
Norton Juster
24 books998 followersNorton Juster was an American academic, architect, and writer. He was best known as an author of children's books, notably for The Phantom Tollbooth and The Dot and the Line.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 218 reviews
June 7, 2021
Acute, quirky picture book for all ages. You can view it from several angles: it’s superficially about geometry, but tangentially about love across boundaries, trying new things, and the perils of judging by appearance. Hence, the subtitle, “A Romance in Lower Mathematics”. My point is plane [sic]: unless you’re really obtuse, you’ll come round to its punning charms, by degrees.
Plot Line, Story Arc, and Love Triangle
A “sensible straight line” falls in love with a “frivolous dot” who prefers a “wild and unkempt squiggle”.
Image: The dot going after the squiggle.
The line tries to impress her: a daredevil tightrope, a potent lance in a painting, and so on.
Image: The line as an international sportsman
But he’s still a straight line, in one dimension - merely in a different context.
After much effort, he begins to develop in other directions: an angle, then another, and another.
Image: The line making angles
But he can’t resist the lure of order, so he makes symmetrical geometric shapes: beautiful and increasingly elaborate, but not wild and free. Eventually he progresses to ellipses, curves, and more creative beautiful hybrids.
He goes back to impress the dot with a variety of patterns, including: mysterious (maze), profound (web), complex, erudite (classical Greek pillar decoration), and eloquent (cherubic frame).
Image: Mysterious, Complex, Compelling (Source.)
The squiggle just squiggles, and the dot realises:
“What she had thought was freedom and joy was nothing but anarchy and sloth.”
The message seems to be about being brave, industrious, and tenacious. Or maybe it’s just fun. The explicit moral is a typical pun:
"To the vector belong the spoils."
Puns
* Before long he was completely on edge.
* How terribly thin and drawn he had become.
* Stretching a point (to say that the dot is beautiful)
Polymath
The author and illustrator, Norton Juster, was an architect and academic, as well as a writer of children’s books, including Phantom Tollbooth.
He also won an Oscar in 1966 for his ten-minute animation of this book. Robert Morley reads the full text, but some of the illustrations are slightly different, and there is a wider, brighter palette. You can watch it HERE (or Google it) and read details on imdb HERE.
Image: The line and the dot in a more colourful video world
Aesthetics
The pictures, in both book and animation, use a surprising variety of styles, but I think it works.
Unfortunately, my edition uses an italic serif font - Colwell - which is pretty, but not easy for children to read. In particular, lower case H and B are almost indistinguishable.
Image: She only had/bad eyes for...
Misalliance
Another comic, all-age tale of love across class barriers, is Flanders and Swann’s delightful song of the same era, Misalliance, about the doomed love of the Honeysuckle and the Bindweed (which is also the name of a Scottish country dance; see diagram of moves here). F&S will teach you a weird botanical fact along the way:
* Lyrics: HERE.
* F&S performing: HERE.
* My review of Songs of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann: HERE.
Image: Honeysuckle and bindweed, entwined (Source.)
See also
For a more abstract look at two-dimensional space, with satirical analogies to Victorian society, see Abbott's Flatland, which I reviewed HERE.
Plot Line, Story Arc, and Love Triangle
A “sensible straight line” falls in love with a “frivolous dot” who prefers a “wild and unkempt squiggle”.
Image: The dot going after the squiggle.
The line tries to impress her: a daredevil tightrope, a potent lance in a painting, and so on.
Image: The line as an international sportsman
But he’s still a straight line, in one dimension - merely in a different context.
After much effort, he begins to develop in other directions: an angle, then another, and another.
Image: The line making angles
But he can’t resist the lure of order, so he makes symmetrical geometric shapes: beautiful and increasingly elaborate, but not wild and free. Eventually he progresses to ellipses, curves, and more creative beautiful hybrids.
He goes back to impress the dot with a variety of patterns, including: mysterious (maze), profound (web), complex, erudite (classical Greek pillar decoration), and eloquent (cherubic frame).
Image: Mysterious, Complex, Compelling (Source.)
The squiggle just squiggles, and the dot realises:
“What she had thought was freedom and joy was nothing but anarchy and sloth.”
The message seems to be about being brave, industrious, and tenacious. Or maybe it’s just fun. The explicit moral is a typical pun:
"To the vector belong the spoils."
Puns
* Before long he was completely on edge.
* How terribly thin and drawn he had become.
* Stretching a point (to say that the dot is beautiful)
Polymath
The author and illustrator, Norton Juster, was an architect and academic, as well as a writer of children’s books, including Phantom Tollbooth.
He also won an Oscar in 1966 for his ten-minute animation of this book. Robert Morley reads the full text, but some of the illustrations are slightly different, and there is a wider, brighter palette. You can watch it HERE (or Google it) and read details on imdb HERE.
Image: The line and the dot in a more colourful video world
Aesthetics
The pictures, in both book and animation, use a surprising variety of styles, but I think it works.
Unfortunately, my edition uses an italic serif font - Colwell - which is pretty, but not easy for children to read. In particular, lower case H and B are almost indistinguishable.
Image: She only had/bad eyes for...
Misalliance
Another comic, all-age tale of love across class barriers, is Flanders and Swann’s delightful song of the same era, Misalliance, about the doomed love of the Honeysuckle and the Bindweed (which is also the name of a Scottish country dance; see diagram of moves here). F&S will teach you a weird botanical fact along the way:
* Lyrics: HERE.
* F&S performing: HERE.
* My review of Songs of Michael Flanders and Donald Swann: HERE.
Image: Honeysuckle and bindweed, entwined (Source.)
See also
For a more abstract look at two-dimensional space, with satirical analogies to Victorian society, see Abbott's Flatland, which I reviewed HERE.
February 9, 2017
This is a short children's book from the author of the spectacular children's classic The Phantom Tollbooth which tells the love story between a Dot and a Line. It is simply magic and your kids will ask you to read it to them time and time again. Perfect for a bedtime story due to its short length, it is a wonderful addition to your kid's bookshelf.
October 20, 2023
The only book I can think of that is similar is Flatland by Edwin Abbot - but this book has much more romance. I am so bad at math that I think I often avoid books on the subject because it just makes me regret the fact that I did not study harder when I was in grade/junior/high school - but I was glad I made an exception and picked up this book.
December 13, 2007
Not as well-known as Norman Juster's The Phantom Tollbooth, but much more to-the-point.
This book concerns a line. Our line is trying to get the attention of the dot he loves.
The dot falls in love with a squiggle.
It is, in short, a classic love triangle. Ha! Get it? A triangle! I kill me!
Ahem... back to the review.
The book's point is about the line's self-concept and self-esteem. He sees the squiggle as everything he can't be (and he truly can't). By the end, he learns what he can be instead, and he gains the confidence to show the dot and the squiggle what he's made of.
It's a silly book, it's a book about love, it's a book about confidence, it's a book about math, and it's a book about being yourself.
Give it to kids and read it yourself if you're feeling down or lost. My beat-up copy has gotten me through a dark night or two. And reading it with my girlfriend always reminds us how to share ourselves with each other.
This book concerns a line. Our line is trying to get the attention of the dot he loves.
The dot falls in love with a squiggle.
It is, in short, a classic love triangle. Ha! Get it? A triangle! I kill me!
Ahem... back to the review.
The book's point is about the line's self-concept and self-esteem. He sees the squiggle as everything he can't be (and he truly can't). By the end, he learns what he can be instead, and he gains the confidence to show the dot and the squiggle what he's made of.
It's a silly book, it's a book about love, it's a book about confidence, it's a book about math, and it's a book about being yourself.
Give it to kids and read it yourself if you're feeling down or lost. My beat-up copy has gotten me through a dark night or two. And reading it with my girlfriend always reminds us how to share ourselves with each other.
June 20, 2008
Aw, come on, Line. You can do better than Dot. Especially after your burst of personal growth! Why didn't you outgrow Dot?
I don't think this is the message I'm supposed to take from this story. I finished it with similar feelings to how I feel about Shel Silverstein's sweet story of codependency The Missing Piece Meets the Big O--a nagging suspicion that I was supposed to find it charming and romantic but instead feeling pity and a mild revulsion to the dynamic.
Why everyone should read this anyway: (a) it's Norton Juster, (b) it involves math jokes, and (c) what do you need a (c) for? It's Norton Juster and makes math jokes. Line's friends were concerned about "how terribly thin and drawn he had become"? Who doesn't think that's hilarious?
I don't think this is the message I'm supposed to take from this story. I finished it with similar feelings to how I feel about Shel Silverstein's sweet story of codependency The Missing Piece Meets the Big O--a nagging suspicion that I was supposed to find it charming and romantic but instead feeling pity and a mild revulsion to the dynamic.
Why everyone should read this anyway: (a) it's Norton Juster, (b) it involves math jokes, and (c) what do you need a (c) for? It's Norton Juster and makes math jokes. Line's friends were concerned about "how terribly thin and drawn he had become"? Who doesn't think that's hilarious?
April 22, 2021
Well actually it's in my son's permanent collection, not mine. He's a huge fan of Norton Juster, too, and he's currently finishing his degree in mathematics education.
So, yes, the note in the back compares this to Gulliver and Alice in Wonderland, as in, fables for all ages with a dose of math. Another reviewer compares it to Flatland, which would be fine, except that's so heavy with social satire the math gets lost in it. Of course it should be compared to Juster's more famous, and even more wonderful, work, The Phantom Tollbooth. But also I compare it to The Missing Piece. And if you like any of the above, read the rest.
So, yes, the note in the back compares this to Gulliver and Alice in Wonderland, as in, fables for all ages with a dose of math. Another reviewer compares it to Flatland, which would be fine, except that's so heavy with social satire the math gets lost in it. Of course it should be compared to Juster's more famous, and even more wonderful, work, The Phantom Tollbooth. But also I compare it to The Missing Piece. And if you like any of the above, read the rest.
June 22, 2008
A wedding present from one of Tyler's friends and, I must admit, absolutely perfect for him! ;-> It's a bit off-beat, quirky, slightly silly yet at the same time being very witty and thoughtful--while managing to be a good romance. The pictures are great and fit well with the text, adding more humor. It's a very quick read and, while I'm not sure I would recommend it to absolutely everyone--if you're in the mood for a fun and surprisingly well-written little tale about all the ways in which a Line finds his true innermost nature to woo his beloved Dot (who is enamored with the Squiggle) then do be sure to give it a whirl.
October 12, 2016
Author of the The Phantom Tollbooth has written a tongue-in-cheek love story, complete with mandatory love triangle: a straight (and boring?) line loves a beautiful dot who fancies herself in love with the madly captivating squiggle. What is the straight line to do to win his lady fair? That is the question!
Through all sorts of clever and maybe painfully not-so-clever but still cute puns, Juster spins his mathematical tale. Unique. Fun. Illustrated throughout and a quick read. Could be read to children but not really appreciated until one is a little older.
Through all sorts of clever and maybe painfully not-so-clever but still cute puns, Juster spins his mathematical tale. Unique. Fun. Illustrated throughout and a quick read. Could be read to children but not really appreciated until one is a little older.
March 13, 2021
Well, I actually watched the Oscar winning short film from 1965 based on the book, screen play by Norton Juster himself, with a narrator, so I figure it’s just as good as reading the book. Very cute and there’s something to be said about order and self-improvement over “anarchy and sloth”.
September 26, 2007
Just read this in 2007 (thanks to seeing it on Goodreads users' shelves); wish I had been able to read the original 1963 edition. I wasn’t sure what bookshelves to put this book on; I was tempted to create a new shelf.
This is a very inventive story about a love triangle between a dot, a line and a squiggle.
A cute story told in pictures & words, with some geometry/math, a love story, a story about developing and improving oneself.
I might have given it 5 stars, but I thought it was unfairly cruel to one of the shapes at the end.
This is a very inventive story about a love triangle between a dot, a line and a squiggle.
A cute story told in pictures & words, with some geometry/math, a love story, a story about developing and improving oneself.
I might have given it 5 stars, but I thought it was unfairly cruel to one of the shapes at the end.
March 15, 2014
Genius.
That would be my one word review, but for those of you who want more I would call this one of the best picture books I've ever read. The story is both simple and complex, much like mathematics. It's the story of a line who's in love with a dot and the plot is filled with all the agony of unrequited love for the entire 80 pages, which will take less than 15 minutes to read. But these will be the most amusing 15 minutes of your day as you explore the theme of love through lower mathematics.
That would be my one word review, but for those of you who want more I would call this one of the best picture books I've ever read. The story is both simple and complex, much like mathematics. It's the story of a line who's in love with a dot and the plot is filled with all the agony of unrequited love for the entire 80 pages, which will take less than 15 minutes to read. But these will be the most amusing 15 minutes of your day as you explore the theme of love through lower mathematics.
November 3, 2017
A book I wish someone had read to me when I was a child. A cute love story between a dot, a squiggle and a line where mathematics and romance meet.
This was made to a short animation film. Find it here
This was made to a short animation film. Find it here
March 6, 2023
Ok so the reason I read this is that I was looking at a copy of the Phantom Tollbooth and I remarked to Matt and Laura "damn I didn't know the Phantom Tollbooth was written by a no name who the hell is Norton Juster lmao" and then Laura got rly mad and proceeded to pull out this book and said "SEE HE HAS OTHER BOOKS DON'T MAKE FUN OF NORTON JUSTER" and in my defense I wasn't trying to bully my boy Norton (rip) I was just surprised that TPT was written by someone not as well known. Aaaaaanyway this was cute and had a lot of math puns and was just a fun little concept! I do think that after that journey of self discovery line should have ultimately realized that getting dot's approval was actually not all it was cracked up to be (being able to find that value in himself etc yada yada) but ultimately the book is just trying to present a cute concept as a vehicle for the math puns and jokes. This also made me think about like chaos and experimentation and creativity. It reminded me of a convo I've been having w Ani lately (and also Laura) about how "pure experimentation" or like the idea of throwing all artistic or literary or creative (or w/e depending on what medium we are talking about) rules out of the window is actually LESS subversive and less impressive than obviously having a knowledge and handle on those rules so that when you subvert them it is actually intentional and for specific reasons. And I think to an extent this is obvious there is the v classic statement of "you need to know the rules first to break them" but sometimes I think we do take that for granted. I just think back to some of my eras with poetry and music where its like I was doing "experimental" stuff but really that was just a cover for me not having the formal skill/ knowledge/ expertise to break conventions in actual intentional ways (for example making ambient music not bc I'm like making a statement about song structure or bc that is the music I truly want to be making in my heart (to be clear i do love ambient and noise btw) but bc I didn't have the skill to like actually sit down and write a song). This is part of the reason I'm forcing myself to write fiction lately (not that I don't love poetry and respect the shit u can do with poetry that u couldn't dream of doing in fiction) bc I want to play around within the constraint of like telling an actual narrative. Anyway lol it just goes back to the idea that the squiggle is rly exciting at first glance bc he seems to be rejecting convention, seems to be made out of pure spontaneity and chaos but then the line eventually shows that strategic and intentional deployment of that chaos and spontaneity can lead to much greater/ more impressive results. Ok rant over I liked this it was fun.
May 4, 2024
Incredibly kind gift from an extremely formative professor. Fuck a squiggle!
May 9, 2012
Just as charming as I remembered it. Reread it to remind myself that it is not necessarily a bad thing I am giving up a squiggly life for a straight line life for at least a while. Inspiring! And beautifully, simply done. Treat yourself to a few minutes of a perfect picture book.
(For adults. I wouldn't want a girl to have the dot as a role model or a boy to emulate the line's affections and wooing, but I don't think that is really the intention or the point. He has an idea to convey and a fun way to tell it, and uses an archetypical romance story as an easy vehicle. )
(For adults. I wouldn't want a girl to have the dot as a role model or a boy to emulate the line's affections and wooing, but I don't think that is really the intention or the point. He has an idea to convey and a fun way to tell it, and uses an archetypical romance story as an easy vehicle. )
February 5, 2023
OMG OMG OMG
An illustrated children’s book about Maths and Love.
Is there anything on earth better than this?
Turned out to be such a beautiful adorable read.
Loved it.
Eeevry bit of it.
From beginning to the end.
And you know what, it had an ending that is better than “happily ever after”.
If you are wondering what on earth could Possibly be better than “happily every after” you must most certainly read this beautiful piece of marvel.
BTW, it is also available in “The internet archive”
An illustrated children’s book about Maths and Love.
Is there anything on earth better than this?
Turned out to be such a beautiful adorable read.
Loved it.
Eeevry bit of it.
From beginning to the end.
And you know what, it had an ending that is better than “happily ever after”.
If you are wondering what on earth could Possibly be better than “happily every after” you must most certainly read this beautiful piece of marvel.
BTW, it is also available in “The internet archive”
December 19, 2018
This is a charming illustrated curiosity, very very short, that contains a morality tale and some hidden psychological insights.
You can read it in less than half an hour.
You can read it in less than half an hour.
February 24, 2024
dün kütüphaneden çıkmadan önce gözüme takıldı kitap. şıp diye okudum. o kadar hoşuma gitti ki öyküsü ve çizimleri 💕
October 6, 2011
My good friend and neighbor just read this to me and our kids--it was very clever. Her husband (currently a Ph.D student in mathematics) had given it to her for Valentine's Day. I don't think our kids got it, but we were sure laughing hard.
Okay, I had to come back and edit this review after I read some of the other reviews saying how this sends a terrible message. That terrible message being that we should never have to change for someone else to like us. Umm....that's ridiculous. I have a lot of friends from a lot of different cultures, with different interests and even different social statuses than me, and we get along because we accept each other. That's fine. But really, would I be interested in or want to marry some guy who lives with his parents, never went to college, plays video games all day, and works at McDonald's? Heck no. That person would have to change a lot for me to notice him. Besides that, marriage and a long term relationship are all about changing, adapting and improving one's self. My husband is my biggest inspiration to improve--to become better. I WANT to change because of him and FOR him. And you have to be able to change for a relationship to work, otherwise that's selfish and eventually the relationship will fail. Plus, would you really want to marry some twenty-something person and for them never to mature and improve themselves beyond what they were when you married them??? Blah.... Maybe Dot didn't make the brightest choice in Squiggle at the beginning, but at least she recognized and appreciated what Line had done and recognized the better man, and apparently she never lost sight of that as they lived mostly happily ever after in the end.
Okay, I had to come back and edit this review after I read some of the other reviews saying how this sends a terrible message. That terrible message being that we should never have to change for someone else to like us. Umm....that's ridiculous. I have a lot of friends from a lot of different cultures, with different interests and even different social statuses than me, and we get along because we accept each other. That's fine. But really, would I be interested in or want to marry some guy who lives with his parents, never went to college, plays video games all day, and works at McDonald's? Heck no. That person would have to change a lot for me to notice him. Besides that, marriage and a long term relationship are all about changing, adapting and improving one's self. My husband is my biggest inspiration to improve--to become better. I WANT to change because of him and FOR him. And you have to be able to change for a relationship to work, otherwise that's selfish and eventually the relationship will fail. Plus, would you really want to marry some twenty-something person and for them never to mature and improve themselves beyond what they were when you married them??? Blah.... Maybe Dot didn't make the brightest choice in Squiggle at the beginning, but at least she recognized and appreciated what Line had done and recognized the better man, and apparently she never lost sight of that as they lived mostly happily ever after in the end.
September 14, 2008
Loved the fanciful/mathematical drawings with lines - also liked the word selection -
I did not like the way the line changed himself for the dot -
although it could be argued that the line went on a journey of self discovery.
The problem is, the dot was not worthy of the line to begin with - and in the end, the line has a great depth of character, and the dot is - a dot.
Still, a very cute picture book -
I did not like the way the line changed himself for the dot -
although it could be argued that the line went on a journey of self discovery.
The problem is, the dot was not worthy of the line to begin with - and in the end, the line has a great depth of character, and the dot is - a dot.
Still, a very cute picture book -
December 28, 2016
A poignant, absolutely wonderful tale.
July 30, 2014
Witty and true to heart! Because good people can and will fall for selfish balls.
November 9, 2016
Very cute mathematical romantic fable, complete with clever moral.
May 30, 2022
Minicik ve çok güzel, çok anlamlı ♡
May 16, 2007
More of a picture book than anything else. It's by the author of The Phantom Tollbooth, which I LOVE, but this one is written as though for an even younger audience (I qualify with the "as though" because I think it's really meant for adults but is laid out like a toddler's picture book) and is mostly just silly, although sweet. It's about a line that falls in love with a dot, but the dot is in love with a squiggle. The line teaches himself to bend into various other shapes to impress her, and of course wins her over in the end. Cute, but you can flip through this in a bookstore or the library and read the whole thing in a few minutes without needing to take it home with you to finish.
February 19, 2010
I just read this short little book by the author of the great The Phantom Tollbooth, about a line's unrequited love for a dot and how he wins her over. Like that book, this is on the surface for kids (although for younger than Phantom Tollbooth), but there's more going on, in particular the same atrocious (in a good way) use of puns ("'She is more beautiful than any straight line I've seen', he sighed..Even allowing for his feelings they felt this was stretching a point", "Moral: To the vector belongs the spoils"), and good points about drawing and creativity.
November 6, 2012
This is probably one of the cutest math humor books I've read.
I love the concept for the little "love triangle" and how complex but simple the book can be, the only thing I would have to complain about is the "moral" of the story.
*Spoiler* he does win the girl in the end, but instead he should have ended up with someone who actually deserves him, not just randomly like "wow you impressed me so much we should get together now".
Overall great kids book and totally recommend for both children and adults :D
I love the concept for the little "love triangle" and how complex but simple the book can be, the only thing I would have to complain about is the "moral" of the story.
*Spoiler* he does win the girl in the end, but instead he should have ended up with someone who actually deserves him, not just randomly like "wow you impressed me so much we should get together now".
Overall great kids book and totally recommend for both children and adults :D
March 11, 2014
By the same author as my childhood favorite The Phantom Tollbooth, this is a picture book that Juster illustrated himself, although it also includes some stock photographs. The story, likely inspired at least partially by Flatland, concerns a line who's in love with a dot, but she prefers an uncouth scribble. Eventually, the line wins the dot's love by learning to form angles, leading up to a punch line presented as a moral. It's a quite clever work that was made into an animated short directed by Chuck Jones.
August 5, 2015
Recently I had occasion to re-read one of my most favorite children’s book, Norton Juster’s The Phantom Tollbooth. Out of curiosity, I checked the Internet to see if he ever wrote anything else & I was pleasantly surprised that he had done a picture book entitled The Dot & the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics. It’s a delightful, although very short read (took me about 10 minutes or so), with quirky humor, visual puns and word play which extends to the author blurb. I re-read it several times to enjoy the illustrations.
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