Little Tiger Books ISBN 9781788816816 £11.99
“It’s Only One” is a child friendly, positive message about how to play your part in the local community. The story tells of a wonderful community with diversity of folk portrayed as different animals living harmoniously together. In fact, Sunnyville was so wonderful “It sparkled with Loveliness”. The inhabitants are kind, friendly, generous and complimentary and get on well until one fateful day when Rhino threw his toffee wrapper to the ground with the excuse,” It’s only one!” Well soon it wasn’t the only one and in no time at all everybody else was dropping litter, pulling up flowers and being noisy and selfish until the community they had once loved “had lost its twinkle completely.” Everyone loves a happy ending, so the book doesn’t disappoint. Mouse, recognising what has happened, begins the journey back to loveliness by replanting one small flower and soon happiness, kindness and teamwork are restored. And “Sunnyville twinkles brighter than ever.” Hooray!! Now just in case any one had missed the meaning of the story it is spelled out plainly in the last few pages where the author, Illustrator and some of the characters share their insights into how to take shared responsibility for the care of our World. I would like to think that parents, teachers and children could have discussed this without the added notes but it’s a belt and braces approach and if one child or adult has a better understanding at the end well it’s worth it I’d say.