Pistes d'exploration

Discuss the message of the book. How did Blue find the courage to stand up to Red? How did One change the dynamics of the group?

Talk with a friend about whether this kind of behaviour ever happens on the playground. What would you say to Red, Yellow and Blue? 

Write in your journal about your reaction to this book. Has anything similar ever happened to you? What advice would you give to the character Blue? To Yellow? To Red? Would you have behaved the same way? Why or why not?

Discuss the message of the book.

Discuss similar situations that you have witnessed.

Write a list of personality characteristics for each of the colours. 

Zero, Oddrey, Dear Bully of Mine

Mots-clés

Picture book , bullying , colours , counting , courage , numbers , self-esteem

Commentaire descriptif

In this imaginative tale, the main characters are colours. Clever language delights in playful colour-references. Blue is a peaceful, reflective guy: “He enjoyed looking up at the sky, floating on the waves. . . .” His friend Yellow has a “sunny” nature. Orange is “outgoing.” Red, however, is a “hot head.” And picks on Blue: “Red is hot. Blue is not.” Children may notice that Red’s bullying develops when the other colours don’t object to his treatment of Blue. They may have their own experiences and insights to share. When Red begins to bully all the colours, “Then everyone felt . . . a little blue.” Strong, graphic illustrations depict the colours in appealing, painterly splotches. Coloured type highlights each colour-name in the text. The number one is introduced with bold brush strokes. His straight form stands tall against the raging Red. The other colours form into numbers, too, finding strength and self-esteem in their new forms, and Red’s spot grows smaller and smaller. Readers of all ages will appreciate this book’s message of transformation, when the colour-numbers encourage Red to find his own real form, and he turns into the number seven. “‘Everyone counts!’ they shouted.”