Review - One Is a Lot (Except When It's Not)

One Is a Lot (Except When It's Not)
by Mượn Thị Văn
illustrated by Pierre Pratt
Date: 2019
Publisher: Kids Can Press
Reading level: C
Book type: picture book
Pages: 32
Format: e-book
Source: NetGalley

2 is a little. 0 is nothing. 1 is not enough.

Well, sometimes ... 1 sun is a lot. 1 dog is a lot. 2 can even be too much. And when it comes to rain clouds, 0 is perfect. It's curious, but true. It all depends on what you're counting!

Bestselling and critically acclaimed author Mượn Thị Văn offers an innovative and thought-provoking look at the question, How many is enough? Simple page by simple page, young readers are shown examples of how, when counting things, the smallest numbers --- 0, 1 and 2 --- can mean a little, a lot or just the right amount. With its playful spirit and lyrical text, this unique, philosophical picture book promotes critical thinking, observation and discussion, even among the youngest children, and introduces a new way to appreciate numbers. Full of energy and humor, Pierre Pratt's illustrations tell a story within the story that adds a separate narrative layer to the spare text.

(synopsis from Goodreads)

This is pretty abstract. The story isn't really a story, but merely phrases of shifting perspective. Sometimes one thing is a lot. Sometimes it's not enough. Sometimes two are too much. Sometimes zero is just right. I mean, I get it... but I'm not sure if all kids will. Especially with some of the examples given. One leash is enough, but two is too much... even though those leashes are preventing the dogs from running away and potentially getting hit by cars.

I'm also not sold on the way "a lot" is used. To me, that usually implies excess. Here, though, it often means "just enough". So that's a potential source of confusion... especially since the words "just right" are also used.

The pictures are okay, but I'm not crazy about the style.

Overall, I'm still a little confused by this one. I understand what the author was trying to do, but I think the execution didn't quite get there.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing a digital ARC.

Premise: 2/5
Meter: n/a
Writing: 2/5
Illustrations: 3/5
Originality: 4/5

Enjoyment: 2/5

Overall: 2.5 out of 5