By Christine McFaul
We Are One: How the World Adds Up is a beautiful new picture book written by Susan Hood and illustrated by Linda Yan.
The book begins with the concept of ‘one’—“One can be one thing all on its own”—then leaps into a whimsical and unexpected count upwards to ten using numbered parts making up a single unit.
But those on their toes, those using their smarts,
know one can be more than the sum of its parts.
The narrative moves forward in short rhyming couplets. And I will be upfront and admit that I am very picky about rhyming children’s books. When it’s done well, I’m all for it. If something is off in the execution, it seriously detracts from my enjoyment of a story. I am happy to say that the rhyme here is well-executed and lovely. For me, it actually enhanced the reading experience because I love the juxtaposition of early math concepts against the whimsy of the poem.
The narrative moves upwards in unpredictable and delightful ways, keeping what could have been a very predictable journey from one to ten surprising, engaging, and multi-layered. Managing to leave readers with not only an introduction to fractions, part/wholes, and addition but also an overall message of unity, cooperation, and awe for the world we all share.
And can I just say, Yan’s illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and bolster that sense of awe. The colour palette is one that is not often used in children’s books, and I am here for it! Yan predominantly uses black and gold, then sprinkles in bright rainbow colours to pop against the dark background. The illustrations are not only lovely but also help to make the complex ideas explored in this book accessible to even the youngest readers.
Each page also includes facts and/or questions that expand on what is happening in the story.
Just think: Many single sticks add up to one pile of sticks, but they can also be something more, like a bird’s nest, a beaver dam, or a campfire… What could many stones make?
This additional information is separated and contained with a gold band that runs the bottom of each page—perfect for opening up discussion and lingering over (if you’re in the mood) or can be ignored (for those days you’re just not—hah!). Back-matter includes additional references and resources which will help this book stay relevant for readers on the top end of the picture book age range and beyond.
If I could recommend one picture book from 2021 to give as a gift, it would be this one. It manages to be both educational and whimsical, beautiful in its writing, illustrations, and concept, with plenty of extras to surprise and delight throughout. Loved it from start to finish.
Thank you, Penguin Random House, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.