One

I am so moved by this book, I barely know where to start writing about it. My daughter just received this for her 6th birthday, and it is maybe the most unique new idea I have seen in children's books in a really long time. If this doesn't become a bestseller, it's a crime.Using the metaphor of colors, Otoshi gently creates a group of kids with different personalities. Blue is quiet and contemplative, yellow is sunny, green is bright, purple is regal, orange is outgoing, but red is HOT -- a bully, who picks on blue. The others colors are sympathetic and like blue and commiserate, but don't tell red to stop, and red becomes bigger and stronger until everyone is bullied and afraid and there seems to be nothing they can do. (This part of the story actually subtly but hauntingly echoes that story about the Holocaust when they come after one group and then another and when they come after the storyteller there is no one left to help).But then the story shifts when "1" arrives. He stands up to red and gives the other colors the courage to do the same. As they find their courage they shift from shapeless colors into numbers -- answering to "1" declaration to say no when picked on with "Me Two" and "Me Three." The metaphor rolls on nicely when blue declares he wants to "COUNT" as well. And when red, in desperation, bullies blue again, blue becomes 6. When red attacks, the numbers stand together, and red becomes small.Maybe the most lovely moment of the book is when blue invites red to count too....red becomes 7 and joins in. The final message of the book is that "sometimes is just takes One."In today's world, this is such an important message. One person has and can change the world, and it's a small act that can do so. We never know how our actions can make a difference. Even in it's this books's most simple interpretation, with bullying is such a critical issue on the playground today, this book sends the message of saying no and and standing together in a really accessible and non-preachy way. It's hard to understand how since they are just blobs of paint, but somehow Otoshi gives the colors such personality you can see kids' personalities just standing there - but so much more beautiful and simple than an "afterschool special type" book illustrated with actual kids can do it.On the wider message, that one action/person can change the world, the book invites discussion with parents and classmates and teachers, and that is what excites me most of all. This book should be in every classroom and on every child's bookshelf. I plan to get it immediately to donate to my daughter's classroom in honor of her birthday, and I suspect it will be a primary feature in "Stand Up To Bullies Day" which I think is coming soon.Please by this book for a child as a gift. It is my absolute favorite thing my daughter received for her birthday.

I’ve read this book to my kindergartners and also older and younger students. It’s a moving story about friendship and standing up for yourself and others. It resonates with kids and they want to hear it over and over. Best book I’ve found in years!

It is a pleasure to read "One" with my four-year-old granddaughter. "One" is a simple book with few words and lots of white space on the pages. Its simplicity makes it easy for my granddaughter to focus and offers a serene reading experience for me. There is a certain amount of magic in this book as the paint blotches and numbers come alive on the pages and easily create emotion and empathy in readers. Kathryn Otoshi's use of colors and numbers as characters offers immediate familiarity to children. It is a brilliant approach, considering colors and numbers are a big part of a young child's learning world. My granddaughter seems to feel quite accomplished when she identifies the colors and numbers in this book.The second time we read the story, my granddaughter was already filling in the words as I intentionally left them out. She loves the parts when Red gets bigger, and bigger, and BIGGER and then later in the story gets very . . . very . . . very small. She also likes it when One enters the story. Ms. Otoshi presents this transition perfectly. Just when all the colors are feeling a little blue because Red was mean to them, One shows up. One is different. He is funny and makes the colors laugh. At this point, a little smile lights up my granddaughter's face. She also likes it when all the colors finally standup to Red. When the story is over, I ask her what she should say when someone is mean to her. She replies, "No."As a 2009 IPPY Award silver medalist, I purchased "One" to see what a gold medalist had to offer, so that I might learn and be inspired. I know a good book when I see one, and I now understand why "One" took the gold.Butterfly Kisses for Grandma and Grandpa

This book is a great message for being kind and helping others. Great for families and for classrooms.

I loved reading this book to my grandsons over and over. They loved it too and had a great message about bullying! The illustration is great! My grandson colored the pictures onto his own drawings. I highly recommend this book. And I thank my niece who recommended it to me!

A beautiful book. Love the message and we read it often, my boy knows all of the words.

I wish I could give this one hundred stars. Not only does it teach, colors and their assumes emotions, it touches on counting to seven and MOST IMPORTANTLY it shows that it only takes one person to make a stand. I love the simplicity of this book and can not wait to read it with my 7 month old. The minimalist pages and bright color will surly hold her interest and the underlying lesson. Is perfect. Love it.

A mi peque de 4a le interesó bastante la historia ya que son números y colores, está muy bien explicado y los motiva a ser más valientes y valiosos como 1.Muy lindo los colores, el embalaje, bien cuidado. Recomendable para peques de Kinder o + que necesitan aprender a poner límites

Um excelente texto! História leve e ludica sobre um tema importante em uma edição super caprichada. Boa para os menores por trazer cores e números e também para maiorzinhos aprofundando a interpretação. Super valeu a pena!

Storia meravigliosa contro il bullismo

absolutely delightful book. bought for my grandkids and it is charming, with great advice to children on both understanding the dynamic, and coping with bullying

I love this book. It is my favourite kids book to date. It has such a good universal message. I think one of the best parts about this book is that it touches on bullies getting bullied and that no one wants to be left out. I love the water colour illustrations and have used it as an example of colour choice and brush stroke technique in my art classes. I've used it as visual symbolism in my English classes. Like I said. I love this book and use any excuse to read it to people.