Two

Like Otoshi's Zero and One, this book stars numerals brushed in cheery colors on clean white pages. Two is best friends with One--or was, until Three comes between them. "Come play with me, One," invites Three. "Odds are better than the rest, but One and Three are the best!" Over-the-top language makes it easy for readers to understand that taking sides is not the way to go. When Two despairs ("Maybe it's time for me to be done with One"), Zero exhorts her to try some out-of-the-box thinking: "What if you can make things right? Can you find it in your heart to see, a new angle to this, possibly?" The other numbers quickly join forces: "When the Dance turns and shifts, let's groove and flow. If you're holding too tight--let go." Otoshi's cognitive behavioral approach suggests that heroic action isn't always something that can be seen; it's something that happens inside. Clearly meant for public readaloud and classroom discussion, this is a polished, on-message opening for dialogue about bullying, mean girls, and other social plagues. Ages 4-up. (Sept.)

K-Gr 2--The first stanza of the song "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold" is, literally, the theme of Otoshi's third book about numbers. Two and One are best friends until Three comes along and disrupts the status quo. Two feels terrible about being left out, but Three convinces One that "odds" are better than the rest," and some verbal teasing ensues. Other odd and even numbers join in the escalating argument until Zero steps in and convinces Two to put a halt to the escalating division. One, Two, and Three apologize for the way they've been acting, and all the numbers, from Zero to Nine, decide it's a good thing to be open to all potential friends. Some lines rhyme, but others don't, which can create a problem in the reading cadence the first time around. This tale, featuring colorful numbers placed on large white pages, presents some clever wordplay and has a moral that will be best understood by children if the book is shared with an adult.--Maryann H. Owen, Children's Literature Specialist, Mt. Pleasant, WI