One

This is a beautifully illustrated book that uses colors, numbers, and even puns to tell the story about a bully (Red), his victims (Blue, Yellow, Green, Purple, and Orange), and the “One” who stood up to the bully. Throughout the story, Red makes the other colors feel smaller and smaller, and they are too afraid to stand up for themselves and the others, even when they know what Red is doing is wrong. However, when One stands up, the tables turn and all colors find their voice to make sure they “count”.

There are so many different topics you can cover from this moving story. A discussion could arise about how the colors were not able to stand up for themselves, and when One finally did it empowered the rest of the colors. There show more is also the possibility a discussion could be brought up about what would have happened if the other colors invited Red into their group. Since is it also a book about colors and numbers, it would be very easy to incorporate this book into a lesson plan over numbers and colors in the early elementary grades. Although the author uses very simple characters, the meaning of this book will have the children thinking and discussing. The end shows children it is important to not turn into the bully.

Reading Level: 2.2
Genre: Modern Fantasy show less

I liked this book for two reasons. First, the writing was very well done. I liked that the author incorporated several puns and plays on words. For example, after each color stands up to Red, they change into a number. Before Bule changes into the number one, he says "I, for One, stand up and say no." I also liked this book because of the characters and the growth that they show. Red, the bully in the story, eventually changes his attitude after talking to the other colors and he changes his ways. The other colors forgive him and befriend him. I liked the bravery that One showed by being the first to stand up to Red and being a role model for the other characters. The message of this book is that it only takes one person to stand up to show more a bully and make them change their behavior. show less

Deceptively simple, One actually covers colors, numbers, bullying, and self-esteem. Otoshi's text is well-crafted for reading aloud and kids will love the way Red's favorite bullying phrase rolls off the tongue, "Red is hot. Blue is not." Without a face in sight, Otoshi still manages to make her watercolor blob characters expressive and endearing. As with most bullying stories, the ending is problematic - is it realistic that Red stops bullying the others and becomes part of their group? I don't think Red rolling away on his own would have made a better ending, but Otoshi's ending does seem a little simplistic. As a simple story rather than a lesson, the ending works fine for me and Otoshi's final line that "Sometimes it just takes show more One," does indicate that the proposed solution doesn't always work. The large amounts of white space, simple text, and visual support from the illustrations would make this a good choice for beginning readers as well. I thought this was really excellent and I look forward to trying it out in storytime. show less

I think this is a fun book for effective questioning. This simple book offers a powerful message, with a blue color circle is bullied by a mean red circle. Finally, the number one stands up for little blue and everyone learns a lesson about being nice - to your friends AND your enemies! This picture book uses colors as characters in this allegory about friendship and bullying. Preschool -3rd grade

This is a phenomenal book about bullying. The artwork is simple and beautiful and does not detract from the story in any way. This is one of those "everyone should read this" books.

"One" is a unique display of overcoming bullying. The characters in this book take the form of colors, and each has their own special personality. Red is the biggest and bullies all of the other colors, especially Blue. The other colors notice that Red is picking on Blue and try to comfort him, but none of them know how to stand up to Red. Soon, Red grew bigger and bigger and scared all of the colors! They all coward in fear, until One came along. One stood up to Red and showed the colors that they could too. Soon the colors turned into numbers themselves and ALL stood up to the big bully Red. Realizing the colors had taken a stand against him made Red feel very very small. Suddenly Blue, now 6, called out to Red and told him that he show more could count too. Red, leaving behind his bully ways, turned into 7 and joined the rest!

We see the colors go from being absolutely terrified to stop Red from bullying them, to coming together to take him on. We also see Red's character change once everyone takes a stand against him. All of the colors forgive him, and he becomes one of them. I love the last line of this book. "Sometimes all it takes is One." It really does only take one person's courage to stand up for something to get other people to take action and stand up too. show less

This book was amazing and powerful, I know the children would love this book. This book is about a blue circle who wishes he has some of the exciting traits like his friends. Blue is timid and he gets bullied by the meanest of them all, which is the red circle. Eventually, blue felt sad with himself. Blue's friends were kind to him, but they wouldn't stand up to red. Blue wanted to give up, but the number one comes along and made things right for blue. Number one brings everyone in a circle together to stand up for blue. That's when red felt very small, and he rolled away. However, blue and one called out to red to join the fun. I believe the theme is acceptance because of blue friends accepting him and number one. At the end of the show more story, they accepted red. This book was fun and cute. show less