I'm Number One

I'm Number One by Michael Rosen. Illustrated by Bob Graham. 2009. (December 2009). Candlewick Press. 32 pages.

"I'm A-One," said A-One.
"I'm BIG A-One.
Let me tell you:
A-One rules.
A-One is number one...

See the toy soldier? He's one big (but silly) bully. He loves to boss the other toys around. He loves to make them feel small and worthless. Is there a way that they can turn the tables around? Make him realize how un-fun he is being? Is there a way for this bully-of-a-soldier to make nice with the other toys?

I didn't much care for A-One. At all. I almost almost felt like calling Sid. Not really. Even bad toys deserve a second chance, right? Maybe? This is a book about what-not-to-do-if-you-want-to-have-friends. Being a bully just isn't right.

What did I think of this one? Well, it wasn't quite for me. But that's okay. It may be right for you.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Being A Pig Is Nice

Lloyd-Jones, Sally. 2009. Being A Pig Is Nice: A Child's Eye View of Manners. Illustrated by Dan Krall. Random House.

The narrator of Being A Pig Is Nice is a young girl (love the pig tails!) who is tired of having to follow her manners. Tired of her mother reminding her over and over how to behave, how to be polite. So as she's on her way to her friend's house, she imagines what it would be like to follow others' manners. To be precise, to adopt animal manners. For example, "When you're a PIG, it's not polite to be clean. It is Very Rude. You have to get muddy or you get in trouble." As she tries on being different animals she realizes that there are pros and cons to every one. Yes, you can be dirty, but you also smell. (For example.) Will this little one stumble upon the perfect creature to be? Read for yourself and see!

This one is fun and playful and imaginative.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers

Play Nice, Calico!

Wilson, Karma. 2008. Play Nice, Calico.

This Calico adventure--once again narrated by the talented Buket Erdogan--is all about learning to play nice with others. In other words, about learning how to treat others. Learning how to act and behave in a "nice" way so that your friends will want to spend time with you.

Puff and Scruff are back in Play Nice, Calico. These three friends are supposed to spend the day laughing and playing together. Can Calico remember her mama's instructions to "play nice?" Or will she be tempted to say "I told you so!", tease her friends, and refuse to share?

The rhyming fun continues in this one. And I must admit it I liked it even more than Friends for Calico.

© Becky Laney of Young Readers