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Summary
Summary
How do you deal with a bully? A stellar author-illustrator team shows that a touch of playfulness can go a long way. (Age 3 and up)
Little wind-up soldier A-One is in charge. At least that's what he tells the other toys: Sally, Maddy, and Sid. When he tells them to turn his key, they do it. When he tells them they're no good, they feel bad. He calls them all kinds of things: no good, hopeless, the worst. Or was that hope-use, good-no, and less-less? Somehow, stringing all those mean words together makes them start to sound, well, silly -- and even though A-One doesn't mean to, he finds himself smiling too. From the incomparable Michael Rosen and Bob Graham comes an insightful, child-friendly tale about learning how to be one of the gang.
Author Notes
Michael Rosen started writing as a teenager, when his mother needed some poems for Radio programs she was making. While at college, he wrote a play which was staged at the Royal Court theatre in London. Rosen's first book was published in 1974, and he is one of Britain's leading children's poets.
Michael Rosen launched the National Year of Literacy project, which encouraged children to help produce an Anthology to be used during the Literacy Hour in primary schools. Children ages 4-11 were invited to submit poems and illustrations featuring their favorite tree. Rosen also led the final judging sessions to decide which submissions would be included.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-Through soft illustrations rendered in pen and watercolor, this simple story offers a helpful message: a bully loses his power when surrounded by friends who rally together. When a girl and her mother leave the house, three toys-a doll named Sally, a duck named Maddy, and a Pig named Sid-must endure name-calling and bossiness from a toy soldier throughout the day. Soon the friends learn that if they can laugh at one another, A-One's message no longer hurts them; in fact, he learns that even he may need friends.-Melissa Smith, Green Valley Library, Henderson, NV (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Publisher's Weekly Review
A windup soldier shows the other toys of the house who's boss in this light tale about dealing with bullies. Blowhard toy soldier A-One needs fellow playthings-Sally the doll, Maddy the duck and Sid the pig-to wind his key. But A-One berates each of them in turn, and, once he's full of energy, goes on to make fun of their assorted accessories ("Å'You look mad in your hat,' he said. And he made up a song, 'Maddy is a mad hat!'Å"), while confiscating the items for his own. When the other toys show resiliency and have a gentle laugh at A-One's expense, he appreciates the humor, sparking an about-face. Children will also appreciate the quiet humor and easily find real-life parallels. Graham, previously partnered with Rosen on This Is Our House, introduces a cast of believable ragtag pals who play out their adventure under the bemused gaze of the family dog. Graham's clean lines, pastel hues, and dot-eyed faces work together to enliven this imaginative, child-friendly fantasy. Ages 3-up. (Dec.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Kirkus Review
Mother and daughter leave for the day while four toys and the dog stay home. The toy soldier, A-One, declares he is in charge and commands each of the other toys to wind his key. Of course they are "no good," "so bad" and "the worst" at doing so. Wound up, A-One continues with more name-calling and insults. The other toys, with a touch of humor, twist and combine all of the hurtful words A-One has spoken into nonsense phrases. Eventually everyone laughs, including the bossy soldier. What follows are kind, apologetic actions from A-One until he is "one of the gang." Graham skillfully uses pen and watercolors to portray each scene in his signature cartoon style. The toys stand out in saturated color against the setting's pale washes, and new readers will appreciate the subtle changes in text highlighting dialogue. Most dramatic is a close-up of A-One realizing how silly he has been. Sure to provoke discussions about bullying, especially since retaliation, even in this rather gentle way, could be deemed controversial. (Picture book. 4-7) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
When a group of toys is left alone for the day, A-One, a very bossy windup soldier, takes command. Neither his duck, doll, nor pig subjects are able to live up to his expectations, and so he marches them around, makes fun of them, and purloins their belongings. As he continues his attempts to assert his authority, though, he notices that the other toys' gentle teasing shows that self-assurance is more powerful than his bully's bravado. As a smile soon cracks on A-One's face, he realizes he wouldn't be anywhere without his companions, and so he returns the stolen items and rejoins the forgiving gang as an equal. The pen-and-watercolor illustrations are filled with expressive characters and Graham's signature, whimsical details, such as the stuffed pig's snout ring. This simple, affecting story will be welcome anywhere that more than two young kids are gathered together and where laughter, not mean words, is the lingua franca.--Medlar, Andrew Copyright 2010 Booklist
