A beautiful and clever story about how The Argument Monster suddenly appears between to best friends. Using a monster that keep growing as they kept on hurting each other, and the ugly thing reaches out to their entourage, making the playground a battleground, until they realize their mistakes. A brilliant way of showing children what arguments can create havoc and how to end it.

Arguments can start out of nowhere. They can bring forth big feelings and emotions. Arguments build and grow. But, it's amazing how one little word can fix so many things. "Sorry" has a lot of power.

The children in One Little Word experience all the feels of what an argument can produce and the elation of what "Sorry" can do.

As a 3rd grade teacher, I can envision reading One Little Word with my students. I love sharing books with a social emotional approach because it is a stepping stone for some really powerful conversations.

Thank you to Net Galley, Joseph Coelho, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the opportunity to read this lovely book!

‘One Little Word’ beautifully captures the story of two friends, who see their playground disagreement transform into a disruptive monster. This picture book has colourful, engaging illustrations and also features POC as its main characters. The emotions are cleverly brought to life (and are written about in regards to their physical effects on the characters too).

With its unique approach to conflict resolution, it will definitely be a new addition to the PSHE shelf in the school library.

Disclaimer: I received a free e-copy in return for my honest review.

5★
“The Argument comes from nowhere. It sits HUGE and BLOATED in the middle of the playground between me and my best friend.”

There’s a group of happy kids playing, and climbing and riding scooters when two of the children find themselves arguing somehow. The Argument is big indeed, and it’s purple and it’s scowling.

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption:
“I think it’s here because we YELLED, and it came!”

So now what do they do? Nobody knows what this big blob is, but it’s certainly got everyone’s attention.

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption:
“All the kids in the playground give it funny looks.”

When the two (formerly) best friends make faces at it (and at each other) and call it bad names, what does The Argument do? It grows! So what do the two (formerly) best friends do? They play on opposite sides of the playground with The Argument taking up almost all the space between them.

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption above it:
“The Argument stretched out between us, SCALY and HAIRY, SPIKY and MEAN.”
and a caption below:
“I tell the others. ‘I don’t care. It doesn’t matter.’”

But that’s not true. All the kids care now and are being affected by The Argument.

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption:
“The Argument’s shadow shudders over us, and it is not fun! And just like that, we all get MAD…

We see four of the kids, Ado, Melanie, Abus, and Maz raining mountains, storming thorns, spinning nightmares, and gusting lava! Then the two (old best friends) shout “YOU’RE NOT MY BEST FRIEND ANYMORE!”

The Argument swells to an absolutely enormous size, shoving all the kids out of the way and lifting the two now enemies higher and higher until they are shouting and screaming “at the very top of The HUMOUNGOUS ARGUMENT.”

Then there’s a push.

There’s a push back.

Then the tears come, lots of tears, “gushing out as all the bad feelings come rushing out big and blue, bigger than our little bodies can hold.”

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption:
“Something new starts bubbling up inside me. A soft little something rolls up from my heart and pops out of my mouth, a tiny little…

‘Sorry’”

The best (not former, not old) friend (not enemy), with wet eyes, says the same.

My Goodreads review has an illustration showing them throwing little blobs into the air.

They fling their Sorries into the air, and The Argument looks decidedly worried – and maybe a little shame-faced.

And what do you know? The Argument begins to shrink smaller and smaller!

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption:
“We crowd around on hands and knees until it shys away to … NOTHING!”

The two best friends hug, followed by a whole group hug!

My Goodreads review has an illustration with the caption:
“happy that we all know how one little word can shrink an argument.”

This is an imaginative way to illustrate the barriers we put up when arguing. That really is what it feels like isn’t it?

I’ve only just noticed, as I was selecting which pictures to use, that the very first page shows seven children in the playground. In fact, I had cropped the picture so that the children would be a little larger in my review, and I had cropped the seventh child out!

My Goodreads review shows an enlarged portion of the illustration where the child is leaving.

Here’s that youngster, on the left - the one with the red pigtails and the downcast face, headed away from The Argument, never to return, not even after The Argument has left.

I can only assume that’s intentional, perhaps to show that there may be lasting effects from letting arguments get out of hand. It’s certainly a good conversation starter for kids. Each child in this book is highly individual. The names, the hair, the styles of clothing all indicate unique little people, all friends.

I think it’s an excellent book that should find a home in school libraries. I can also imagine a lively cartoon show.

Thanks to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children’s Books for the copy for review.

I absolutely love everything that @josephcoelhoauthor writes so I had to have a read of this book!

The story is about Argument and how it can grow and grow if people dont talk and resolve situations. It portrays Argument as a physical creature who can get inbetween the best of friendships.

It is a really heart warming story with an important moral. It is a great way to teach children about conflict resolution with wonderful illustrations.

07/13/2023 || One Little Word by Joseph Coelho || I just reviewed One Little Word by Joseph Coelho. #OneLittleWord #NetGalley

Thank you NetGalley, Joseph Coelho, and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, Frances Lincoln Children's Books for making this e-ARC available!

Please note: This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author and myself.

4.25
I read this e-ARC out loud to my son and while we liked it, and the overall message being provided, it fell a tad flat in some places. I felt at the start the author maybe attempted rhyming some words and then suddenly stopped. A lot of the sentences were staggered in a way (as in one part was on one page and you had to fully turn the page to end it) that was hard for an adult to read out loud and my son had a hard time following.

Again, beautiful message, but just a touch too much being said all at once and would have made a bigger impact (at least to for my family) if things stayed on the same page (sentence wise).

The artwork was gorgeous and I loved how inclusive the characters were!

Edit as of 08/03/2023: reviewed on Amazon

One day An Argument appears on the playground. It came out of nowhere and got larger and larger as terse words were exchanged. Will two friends find a way to make the awful, and awfully LARGE Argument go away?

This was wonderful! I loved everything from the concept of making The Argument a purple monster, to the unusual color palette of orange, purple, and chartreuse.

This one would be a great addition to any school library.

What a cute story for children! I can see the parents of my children patrons loving this! This will definitely be a popular book!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this title. This sweet book is geared toward younger elementary kids and is very relatable - the feelings two friends have when they get in an argument. At first, it feels huge and overwhelming, as the argument monster on the playground indicates. After the climax of the fight, the friends realize that “sorry” goes a long way. It’s a cute book that puts into words the strong feelings students may have as their friendships ebb and flow.

4.5/5, rounded up to 5

I received this ARC thanks to Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

10 stars! Joseph Coelho gave the world the perfect way to not only explaines arguments and feelings attached, he made it fun. Very fun. I know adults who could use this book, but children will be able to really visualize and grasp the concept of fighting and apologies.

Consider making a high school or office atmosphere version.

A story that metamorphizes an argument between children. An argument that becomes a monster: heavy, huge and impacting all the children's on the playgrounds ability to play and have a good time. It causes everyone to melt down until physical shoves are traded, resulting in tears. The only solution is to offer sorry's. A good way to visualize conflict and resolution.

This was a good story, but not a favorite. I could absolutely see this being useful as these type of playground fights are common with young children. Personally, I could do without the personification of the argument in the story. My children are a bit sensitive to monsters and I feel like the story could play out the same without it, but I also understand why the monster is used here. Not bad at all, but not exactly right for my family.

This book tells the story of a group of friends who end up having an argument at the playground. Their resentment grows and grows until the argument turns into a big, hairy monster who ruins all their fun.

It was so heartwarming to read this book! I adored how cute it was, and the drawing style with the purple and green accents was phenomenal. It is such an important book for children, I will definitely pick this one up when I have my own child.

Many thanks to Netgalley/the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

“One Little Word” by Joseph Coelho and illustrated by Allison Colpoy.
A picture book for children 3 years and up, “One Little Word” follows two best friends playing at a park. After an incident happens between the friends they go their separate ways. That gives a monster a chance to appear and you see the monster in the beautiful illustrations take over the playground.

Now the friends have a monster at the park with them, that keeps growing with every negative interaction between the two children. With every moment that continues to pass between them, the monster gets bigger, it doesn’t even fit in the playground. Until the children come together and exchange one little word that starts shrinking the monster.

One Little Word is perfect for young children, the illustrations relay the story visually for those too young to read. And, the words of Coelho are lyrical and make for a great read-a-loud book. Children will be curious to find out how those two best friends ended up making the monster at the playground disappear. Share the importance of apologizing and forgiveness with this children’s book. A great way to discuss emotions for young minds in a soft manner that will still reach and impact them.

In the middle of the playground, it appears. Taking the form of an angry beast, an Argument materializes between the story’s primary set of friends. Initially unsure why it exists, the duo soon have a hunch when each mean name, bad word, rude expression, or shove dealt, spurs the monster’s growth. At its full size, the children realize the monster is not only separating them, but causing division between their friends, too. Overwhelmed with a range of emotions, one little word bubbles from their brokenness. Gifted with the light and joy the word brings, they have the opportunity to make the Argument a thing of the past, share in laughter with their friends, and restore peace to the playground.

Joseph Coelho’s One Little Word features a wonderfully diverse cast of characters and message for children of all ages. With its gentle shape and wide eyes, Allison Colpoy’s monster is almost cuter than it is frightening, but that doesn’t mean the book isn’t without daunting scenes for younger or sensitive readers. Though the narrative discourages the hostile actions of the children, they continue for many pages and grow progressively worse until a physical altercation ensues. Despite this, Coelho’s moral of humility and kindness round the book nicely and make it a wonderful addition to any child’s library.

Thank you to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Now that I have a niece, I'm on the hunt for children's books with important messages for kiddos and adults. One Little Word fits that criteria for me. This book emphasizes how impactful arguments can be on those around us and it speaks to the complicated feelings we all have. I particularly appreciated the this quote: "'I don't care. It doesn't matter.' But I do care, and it matters a lot." What an important lesson in being able to acknowledge that it's okay for things to matter. The illustrations and representation were beautiful!

I read this book for free thanks to NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

I love this book. It beautifully describes an argument and how it can get between friends by describing how it grows by using a monster.

I definitely want to own my own copy of this for my classroom when it is published this summer.

Thank you!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the eARC! This is a good story to use with children when talking about getting into disagreements with their friends. I could see social workers using this in school. Overall, the story shows how important it is to say one little word (sorry) and how this can make the argument go away.

This was a cute little story about how one little word can help "The Argument" monster to go away. Perfect for little kids who are learning about apologies and how their emotions and fights can become a really big deal if they don't handle it the right way

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

I loved the visual representation of how anger and arguments can get out of hand quickly. I didn’t love that the kids pushed each other in the story. But the apology scene helped redeem it.