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

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/R2231631XURCBLand 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.

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!

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.