This was cute and easy and quick.. I love the introduction to the idea that perspective impacts if things are too much or too little. and really liked the art style.

I'll definitely be borrowing this from the library to read to my kids.

This book is deep. Very simple to read, but the concepts behind everything are very thought provoking. I would say this book is not for very young readers even though it LOOKS simple and the pictures are so adorable.

Sometimes 1 is a lot. And zero is just right. A creative take on number books, with spare text and playful illustrations.

One book can be a lot. It can also be just right. Muon Thi Van has written such a book. I can't wait to share this book with others, as it is currently on the top of my list. The author uses just the right amount of words to teach the value of nothing and having just one of something. Personally, I find it brilliantly written and illustrated. A way to teach the world that maybe, just maybe, one is enough.

I was excited to read this book based on the clever title and beautiful cover art. I've always had a love of squirrels, so I was hooked before I opened the book. The idea that a single item can be considered a lot or a little depending on the circumstance is an interesting idea.

The author gives examples of times when one is not enough. For example, if there are two ducks, one piece of food is not sufficient. And sometimes, one is "a lot" like when a bicycle is about to run over a little squirrel. I have to say some parts were a bit unclear to me as an adult, but when I read it to my three year old, he didn't seem to mind. He asked to read it again! I particularly liked the ending when the single acorn sprouts into a tree. One acorn is enough to create new life.

I kept wanting to change the phrase "one is a lot" to "one is enough." In my mind, one is never a lot, based on the principle that is is just one, not matter how you count it. But one certainly can be enough. I love the idea, and I think it can be a real winner with a little tweaking. It is an original idea that I have never seen considered before in children's literature.

Finally, I truly enjoyed looking at the illustrations in this book. They are calming and beautiful.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I really like the unique concept of this book. One acorn can be a lot if that’s all you need. And one acorn may not be enough if there are two squirrels that need to share. But if there are two acorns, that might be too much for one squirrel. It just depends on what you need and how you look at the situation.

I feel like the idea needed to be developed a bit more and other, more kid relatable situations used. Kids may not relate to acorn scarcity. But change that to limited ice cream cone availability and you have a different story. There were some relatable examples such as one dog being enough because he’s your best pal and because one dog provides plenty of love and companionship. There were several pages where I was unsure what point the illustration was making, particularly on the “0 is just right” pages. Very limited text was used. I think more text would’ve been helpful to clarify these situations.

I received an electronic copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

So I’m rounding up to three stars for this one, mainly because I loved the concept and what I think the author was trying to say. I was so excited after the first page or two as I predicted I could use this book in my classes and could use it to teach a variety of lessons. However, for me anyway, the language and examples used made the whole book fall a bit flat. Even I was confused, and I’m not a young child- and haven’t been for a looonnnggg time. ;-)

This book focuses on 0,1, and 2. Although it is a lower level book, I think this could really generate deep conversations in 3rd grade and therefore has its place in the elementary classroom.

This adorable book is about quantity and really small quantities. 0, 1, and 2. This story will be a wonderful mentor text for the littlest students to think about 0, 1, and 2. When is 1 a lot? Is 2 too many? Is zero enough? I love this idea! I can't wait to put this one in my library.

Wanted to like this book, but I ended up confused part of the time and would be surprised if any kids could follow it well. I also did not enjoy the illustrations at all. Just a bummer all the way around for me personally.

I'm not sure what I think of this picture book – however pleasant to the eye, and however unshowily clever the story might be. It is simply made out of instances where the text can say that 'one is a lot', or 'two is too much', or 'zero is just right', which don't seem to get us very far. However that doesn't take in the visual narrative, which is a stronger work, taking what the text tells us and running with it, to come up with a whole drama of a day in a sunny park – and more. That's all well and good but with the writing this sparse I do wonder if the people who read this will be too young to get the full gist of the poetic intention and the philosophy of the visual story. It might just serve as a pleasant item to flick through and no more – in which case the whole cross-generational saga conveyed is somewhat wasted. I hope not.

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.

One is a Lot (Except When it’s Not) explores the idea that depending on what you’re counting one may be enough, not enough or too much.

It was an interesting perspective I hadn’t really thought of and I like the explanations. It was easy to follow and understand.