Blue is a quiet color. Red’s a hothead who likes to pick on Blue. Yellow, Orange, Green, and Purple don’t like what they see, but what can they do? When no one speaks up, things get out of hand — until One comes along and shows all the colors how to stand up, stand together, and count. As budding young readers learn about numbers, counting, and primary and secondary colors, they also learn about accepting each other's differences and how it sometimes just takes one voice to make everyone count.
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Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-K—This is a deceptively simple color and counting book that turns into a lesson on bullying. Whenever they meet, Blue is picked on by Red: "Red is HOT. Blue is NOT." The other colors like Blue but are intimidated by the bluster so they say nothing, and soon Red is bossing everyone around. But then One comes. It is funny and brave and confronts Red: "If someone is mean and picks on me, I, for One, stand up and say, No." All the other colors follow One's lead and become numbers too. Yellow is two, Green, three, etc. Red begins to feel left out and tries to bully Blue, but Blue ignores him and changes to Six: "Red can be really HOT,' he says, but Blue can be super COOL.'" The rest of the numbers stick up for Blue, but offer Red the opportunity to join in the counting, and all ends well. The book is well designed with bright colored circles and numbers on stark white pages accompanied by black print. The text is very simple but meaningful, and the moral is subtly told. Red is not ostracized but included in the game, and the essential point of one person making a difference is emphasized by the ending: "Sometimes it just takes One." This is an offering with great potential for use with the very young in a variety of ways.—Judith Constantinides, formerly at East Baton Rouge Parish Main Library, LA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From Booklist
*Starred Review* There are many stories about bullies, but few have looked at the subject in such an attractive, original way. Using round splashes of watercolors as their personas, Otoshi introduces a group of colors. Quiet Blue likes looking at the sky. The other colors have their own characteristics: Orange is outgoing; Green is bright; Purple is regal. Red, though, is a hothead and likes to tease: “Red is hot. Blue is not.” Blue feels bad, and though the other colors comfort him, they’re afraid of Red. In a dramatic and effective spread, Red, feeling mean, grows into a bigger, ever-angrier ball. Enter One. The sturdy numeral wins over the other colors with laughter, making Red even madder, but when he tries his bullying ways on One, One stands up to him. The other colors follow, turning Red into a small ball. He is rolling away when Blue gracefully offers him a chance to be counted. The use of colors and numbers gives the story a much-needed universality, and there is a visceral power in the “strength-in-numbers” gambit (although it should be noted that it can work for ill as well as good). Otoshi cleverly offers a way to talk to very young children about the subject of bullying, even as she helps put their imaginations to work on solutions. Preschool-Grade 1. --Ilene Cooper
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
50 of 52 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
5 Stars is Not Enough -- Amazing New Book About Bullying (with colors and counting too)
October 21, 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
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.... Read more ›
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.... Read more ›
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By S. Cichowlas
Format:Hardcover
I read this book to my 7 year-old son tonight. As a fairly non-aggressive child, he has had a few experiences with older children who some would call bullies. Interestingly, he seemed to be quite aware that Red's actions were more a symptom than a cause. He said, "If they had just included Red at the beginning, maybe he wouldn't feel left out."
I would highly recommend this book to classroom teachers, therapists, and anyone else who works with children.
I would highly recommend this book to classroom teachers, therapists, and anyone else who works with children.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By CMiller
Format:Hardcover
I rarely review picture books. It's not that I don't love them. It's just that I'm a YA writer and there are so many YA books and only so many time to read and review them. So it has to be a particularly special picture book for me to review it. And let me tell you, this one is it. The illustrations, though simple, are quite lovely and colorful. It would draw any child's eye. But it's the story that sold me. Because although ONE is in many ways educational, teaching kids counting and colors, it also deals with the issue of bullying.
I know, right? How does an author pull those elements together? Not without serious thought, I'm sure. The basic premise is that the color red is bullying all the other colors, but blue especially. And no one will defend Blue or do anything about it. Until one day One arrives and stands up to Red. No matter what Red says, One will not back down. This is enough to encourage the colors, one by one, to stand up to Red and be counted. And in the end, Blue finally finds his voice, too, and lets himself also be counted--Blue finally sees his own worth and understands that he, too, has value. And all it took was One to stand up to the bully.
It's a pretty powerful message, I think. Mob mentality works both ways--to create bullies, but also to bring them down. In keeping silent, all the colors aided and abetted the bullying of poor Blue. But once One spoke up, and then all the rest and the rest, the mob of "worthy" colors knocked Red down to size.
Of course, it's cool that this book will also help kiddos learn to count and recognize colors, but the message behind it makes this book stand out.... Read more ›
I know, right? How does an author pull those elements together? Not without serious thought, I'm sure. The basic premise is that the color red is bullying all the other colors, but blue especially. And no one will defend Blue or do anything about it. Until one day One arrives and stands up to Red. No matter what Red says, One will not back down. This is enough to encourage the colors, one by one, to stand up to Red and be counted. And in the end, Blue finally finds his voice, too, and lets himself also be counted--Blue finally sees his own worth and understands that he, too, has value. And all it took was One to stand up to the bully.
It's a pretty powerful message, I think. Mob mentality works both ways--to create bullies, but also to bring them down. In keeping silent, all the colors aided and abetted the bullying of poor Blue. But once One spoke up, and then all the rest and the rest, the mob of "worthy" colors knocked Red down to size.
Of course, it's cool that this book will also help kiddos learn to count and recognize colors, but the message behind it makes this book stand out.... Read more ›
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Rand McNally
Format:Hardcover
This is an amazing book. Not preachy, it uses color, rhythm, and drama to create a short fable about how to overcome oppression. While you first think of schoolyard bullies, it's really about more than that: it's about people banding together from a sense of inclusion to defeat their enemies by bringing them into the group. This is one of the most important books of the year, with a message that is simple, powerful, unforgettable, and uplifting. Parents, teachers, buy this book and read it to your children!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By VT
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fantastic book for any age -- I recently read it to a 4th grade class. The book provided a context from which we could launch a fabulous discussion about getting along (and bullying!). After reading and discussing, the students all appreciated one another much more -- and those who were acting red chose to count instead! Those who were "blue" counted too! And the oranges and greens -- they saw that what they did (or didn't do) mattered too! This book is a keeper! Strongly recommended for students of all ages. Every teacher should have this book within arms reach!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Be yourself!
It's never too early to learn that lesson. Bonus: There's color and number learning! You couldn't ask for anything more!
Published 2 days ago by L. Clark
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific
Should be read to children of all school ages. So meaninful. We read it during anti-bullying week. A child brought it in and we teachers had to have it.
Published 4 days ago by Barbara
5.0 out of 5 stars
academics and social emotional
not many books link colors, numbers, and how to stand up and make a difference in the world. I love the book and cant wait to pass it on to moms I know!
Published 22 days ago by Erin Zelinski
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome Anti-Bullying Book
A friend from the Conflict Center shared this book with me, and I had to have it! The concepts it shares are perfect for children and demonstrate how working together is the best... Read more
Published 22 days ago by B. Rohrer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easy for four year old to understand
This is a great book as all the other reviewers say. My four year old daughter loves this book. I bought a second copy to donate to her preschool.
Published 26 days ago by Ai my me
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clever way to teach about effects of bullying
I've always had problems with the ways bullying is usually explained to young people. Rarely is standing idly by addressed as part of the issue. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kristen
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for any age.
This book had wonderful, simple illustrations that children can all understand. It delves into colors, numbers and bullying. Great message at the end that kids recognize easily.
Published 1 month ago by Sara Flammer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Simple and poignant
Absolutely love the simple and perfect way the author tells the story of how one person can change things. I read this to each of my 5th grade classes and they were mesmerized. Read more
Published 1 month ago by April Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars
EXCELLENT BOOK ! !
This book was read by Soroptimist volunteers to K-6 grade individual classes in a rural school, and the kids and teachers loved it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by grandmad
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Book for Teachers and Parents
This is a really great book to teach children how to identify and deal with Bullies. The subject is approached in a gentle way but has a powerful message. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Barbara De Salvo
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