The Only One Club [Hardcover]

Jane Naliboff (Author), Jeff Hopkins (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004 | Age Level: 5 and up | Grade Level: K and up

This heartwarming story explores the many ways in which children feel unique and special. Mrs. Matthews's first grade class begins making Christmas decorations, but because Jennifer is Jewish, Mrs. Matthews allows her to make Hanukkah decorations instead. Jennifer enjoys the attention and creates "The Only One Club," of which she is the sole member. When her classmates want to join, she is resistant until she realizes that each of her friends is also "the only one" at something. As she inducts them into her club she reveals the unique qualities that make each of her classmates extraordinary. Through this touching story, young children are encouraged to discover and treasure their own uniqueness and to actively look for special qualities in others beyond race or culture. A medley of pencil, watercolor, acrylic paint, and pastel illustrations bring this inspiring and humorous tale to life.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jennifer turns her uniqueness into an asset ... a great lesson to share during this holiday season."  —Miami Herald

"Friendly illustrations emphasize an upbeat and positive message about the value of differences and the importance of tolerance and acceptance."  —Midwest Book Review

"Embraced by librarians and school teachers alike for its engaging storyline and its underlying message."  —The Franklin Journal (Maine)

About the Author

Jane Naliboff is the author of Kids Will Be Kids. She has published children's stories in Cricket, Hopscotch, and Spider. She lives in Vienna, Maine. Jeff Hopkins has worked as a museum educator for the Museum of Modern Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art, where he served as artist-in-residence for after-school art programs for K–2 students. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 5 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Flashlight Press (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972922539
• ISBN-13: 978-0972922531
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #466,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #58 in Books > Children's Books > Holidays & Celebrations > Jewish

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cute New Children's Book That Teaches A Lesson, November 16, 2004

By 

Erika Sorocco (Southern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Only One Club (Hardcover)

When six-year-old Jennifer Jacobs' first grade class begins working on Christmas decorations, she quickly informs her teacher that she doesn't celebrate Christmas, but rather Hanukkah, for she is Jewish. Soon, Jennifer realizes that she is the only Jewish child in her class, and decides to make The Only One Club, in which she is the only member. However, as word gets around about her club, Jennifer begins realizing that there are many other children in her class, and in the school, who are the only one of something, and quickly makes badges for everyone in her class, informing them that they too can be a member of The Only One Club.

While I am not Jewish myself, I find that there are so few books on the market for Jewish children around the holidays. So I was quite awed by the arrival of Jane Naliboff's THE ONLY ONE CLUB. The prose is wonderful, and teaches children that everyone is unique, whether it's the color of their hair, or eyes, or their religion, or beliefs, while the illustrations by Jeff Hopkins couldn't be cuter. This is a lovely children's book to pick up this holiday season, whether you're Jewish or not.

Erika Sorocco
Book Review Columnist for The Community Bugle Newspaper

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readers: You're invited to join a remarkable club!, October 12, 2004

By 

Haemi Balgassi (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Only One Club (Hardcover)

There are many beloved holiday-themed books in print. Most are read around the time of the holiday they're about. Jane Naliboff's THE ONLY ONE CLUB is a rare gem: it's a holiday book (Hanukah, Christmas) that can be enjoyed and appreciated any time of the year. Young readers will learn, along with the book's heroine, first-grader Jennifer Jacobs, that everyone is "the only one" of something, and that our differences can unite our spirits as much as our similarities.

THE ONLY ONE CLUB is vibrantly illustrated by illustrator Jeff Hopkins. The expressive faces of Jennifer and her friends draw my six-year-old into the story every time she reads it, and make her feel a part of their class - a member of Jennifer's THE ONLY ONE CLUB.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for a pediatricians office, June 9, 2006

By 

Kenneth H. Kaplan - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Only One Club (Hardcover)

I am a pediatrician and have copies of this book in my exam rooms. It is the book most commonly commented on by parents as being a wonderful children's book.