I'm Number One

Michael Rosen (author)

Bob Graham (illustrations)

Walker Books, Australia: 2009

ISBN: 9781406314656

Genres: allegory, picture book

Issues: bullying, conflict resolution, friendship

A-One, a wind-up soldier, tries to dominate the other toys, convinced he knows better. Quite what he knows better about isn't clear to the others but they're patient and soon A-One realises that being friends is more fun than being the boss.

Bob Graham (How to Heal a Broken Wing) and Michael Rosen (We're Going On A Bear Hunt) are both talented storytellers in their own right. A collaboration between them should have created a great book but instead the result is rather ordinary, artificial and contrived. The concept is sound but has been done better by others - have a look at Say Hello! by Jack and Michael Foreman.

The weak storyline in I'm Number One makes the text preachy rather than thought-provoking. Graham's illustrations are done with his usual care and cleverness - but he isn't given much to work with in relation to the text. In many ways the soft pastel tones he uses for the child's room fail to reflect the darker emotions A-One is projecting. The book may well appeal to toddlers but probably lacks the capacity to stand up to repeated rereads or to take the reader beyond the page.