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.

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

I am a traditionally published author. And I wish I had written this book. From the time our little guy was a baby until his current status of two years, he has loved One. It is seamless in teaching colors, numbers, and bullying--quite a feat. Although I must have read it hundreds of times (once is never enough, although he also looks at it by himself), it never gets old. Entertaining, colorful, educational, One hits the trifecta for kids and for adults.

I got this book to help my five year old son with empathy and caring for others. This book is PERFECT! The story is cute, the colors and numbers are a great way to keep a young child entertained, and the storyline is something school aged children can really relate to (bully that nobody stands up to). My only issue is that when the colors turn into numbers, they say that they want to "count" (meaning matter) but my son thought they wanted to "count" like 1...2...3... It took me about 5 minutes to explain that "count" has two meanings and I'm still not sure he got it. Either way, he enjoyed it so much that he asked me to re-read it two more times that night. I expect he'll pull this one off the shelf more often than not. I would definitely recommend this to parents of children aged 3 to about 7 if you're trying to teach caring for yourself and others.

Absolutely love this book. I buy it for all of my friends as they become first time parents. Absolutely frustrated that I was sent a used copy this time. It looks like a use to be a library copy. There's a blacked out barcode and label on the spine. The label on the back says "used." Now I have to spend my time returning this copy.

Kathyrn Otoshi is a very accomplished writer of simple stories. Simple enough for a 2 year old to enjoy and simple enough for a parent to read and re-read every night and not be nauseated. The illustrations are so simple and so real. you can actually see the blobs of paint animated and doing "human" quality things. I will leave it at that so as to not expose the entire story. We've got a serious bunch of laughs out of this one, and lessons on compassion and love on several nights. I also noticed that it makes little kids think about what they do (actions) and how they do it, and believe it when I say that this book has resulted in some humane qualities coming out strongly in our son. I also reviewed "Zero" her other book that came after "One", here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2231631XURCBL and all I can say is that she has done justice to her prior art. This book comes with a dust jacket that is very delicate and prone to scratches. Since a 2 year old doesn't care for the details there, I strongly recommend parents take off the dust jacket as soon as the box arrives and store in away neatly. That way the book will continue to look good for a long time.

Okay, so I could write a book about this book! That's just how wonderful it is. I am a Art teacher with my own program in a public school and I teach art from an approach that brings out the creativity in every child; not just those who can paint and draw. I love sharing life lessons through art and that's just one of the things I love about this book. The author is absolutely genius in her use of color and creative language to bring home such an awesome lesson about standing up for yourself and others. I read this book to all of my classes which start a pre-school and end with 6th grade. The lessons in this book are timeless and no one is too old to benefit from this story. I teach my students that Art is Powerful! I count this story as a tool in my box of instruments to drive this fact home. One of my 5th grade students actually had the opportunity to meet you at her old school and she was so excited to share this with me when I finished the story. Thank you Kathryn Otoshi for One because in my class Everyone Counts!!!!

This is an amazing book dealing with the never ending issue of bullying. It is simply written with a powerful message that resonates with kids of all ages. As a teacher and parent and I have read this book many times to my students and children as it teaches colors, numbers, how bullies make you feel and the all important lesson (that is hardly addressed in other books) of how by-standers that do nothing can perpetuate the problem of bullying. One teaches kids about standing up and "counting." This book should be read to all school aged children. It is truly "One" of the best.

Its one of the books in my collection that i love. Very good for kids and adults. Nicely told story. Highly recommend book.

This is a stunning book, the story has a really lovely message about sticking up up yourself and for others and how 'one' can make a difference. I read it with my 3 and 1 year old regularly and it's one they ask for again and again.

Storia meravigliosa contro il bullismo

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.

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