One- A Book for Everyone's Library!

One by Kathryn Otoshi

Blue is a quiet color who likes looking at the sky and floating on waves. Sometimes he wishes he was more like his friends Orange, Purple, Green, and Yellow but he's happy being Blue- except when Red comes around. Red is a hothead who picks on Blue. Although Blue's friends feel bad, they never try to stop Red until One comes along. When One stands up to Red, the other colors learn that everyone, even Red, matters.

Our Discussion About the Book:

• What does Blue think of himself? Sometimes he wishes he was another color but overall he likes being blue.
• How did the other colors respond to Red's hurtful words? They comforted Blue but didn't ask Red to stop.
• What happened to Red when no one asked him to stop? He became bigger and picked on all the other colors.
• How did One stand up to Red? He said "No!"(Or "Stop" which is one of our 5 problem solving strategies we use in the classroom and at home) when Red asked him to stop laughing.
• What did One show the others? To stand up and say "NO or Stop!" if someone picks on them.
• How did everyone help Blue when Red tried to roll over him? They stood up to Red and said, "No or Stop!"
• When was Red asked to be part of the group that "counts"? When he stopped being mean.
  

Next week we will continue to read and explore ONE! We will discuss with the children what "taking a stand" sounds and looks like. Brainstorm words that may be heard when people "take a stand."e.g."no" and "stop."  We will cut red, blue, yellow, green, purple, and orange circles and numbers from one to seven. The children will be asked to use the shapes to act out the story of One. Then we will discuss how they felt acting out the different colors and numbers.


It is an easy step from helping children understand how bias hurts, to helping them plan how to "stand up" against it. All of the children will experience bias in their lives-aimed at them and at others. To give them tools to deal with bias BEFORE they have experienced very much of it, is an invaluable gift they will use the rest of their lives.