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.

Great picture book for younger grades about arguing and the power of words and actions. This would be great in a lower elementary classroom when students are fighting or not sure how to communicate with each other.

I received an electronic ARC from Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books through NetGalley.
Wonderful image to capture how an argument grows from one little disagreement. It can grow until it takes over all of the playground/life and reach out to involve so many other friends. It even looks cute while it is growing and spreading.
Coelho offers a perfect example for younger readers so they can see what happens when they argue with a friend. It grows until someone physically shoves the other and everyone sees and reacts to the violence. Then, one tiny little word forms and sharing a "sorry" brings the argument back into perspective. It shrinks the monster until it disappears.
Great story to share early in a school year and in family story times when siblings or friends are feeling disgruntled.

In a Nutshell: A cute and meaningful picture book focussing on the power of one of the most important words in the English language: ‘Sorry.’

Written from the point of view of a little girl, the story tells us how, when her best friend and she yelled at each other on the playground, a huge ‘Argument’ (who looks like a giant purple monster) came and sat in between them. As they continued making faces and calling each other bad words (no bad word explicitly mentioned in the book – don’t worry!), the Argument grows and grows until it is gargantuan and they can’t even play properly because it has enveloped the whole playground and even stretched onto their other friends. However, when the emotions of the first two kids overwhelm them, a little ‘Sorry’ pops out, and all the friends realise that only a ‘Sorry‘ has the power to turn the giant Argument smaller.

The premise is absolutely simple and absolutely beautiful. Children don’t understand how arguments can escalate and spoil the day not just for them but even for those who weren’t directly involved in the fight. Picturing the argument as the purple Argument monster of this book will help them visualise the effect of arguments, and also see how the Argument monster relishes growing larger as the kids’ fights grow louder.

What I also enjoyed is how the message isn’t shoved into the kids’ minds. The importance of a ‘Sorry’ comes naturally in the flow of the story, and it isn’t forcibly reiterated. Also, the apologies are mutual, and we are never told who began the fight. This was the best part. After all, the one who continues the argument is as much at fault as the one who initiates it.

Joseph Coelho (UK’s Children's Laureate of 2022) is a poet, and though the book is written in simple prose, his lyrical phrasing is clearly visible in the text. I love his way of using adjectives to enhance the impact of the lines almost in a visual way. The font is also used to emphasise the words that create imagery.

The artwork is quirky and fun, and inclusive as well. The expressions of the kids and the Argument monster are fun to watch.

Overall, a funny story with a lovely message. Definitely recommended. The book will work well for readers aged 3-6.

4.25 stars.

My thanks to Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for the DRC of “One Little Word”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

"The argument came from nowhere.
It sat huge and bloated
in the middle of the playground
between me and my best friend."

God, this is so interesting. There is a big monster that grows from the argument of two best friends. One little word is "Sorry". Saying sorry can fade, eliminate, and minimize arguments. A sweet story to learn to forgive each other and not fighting with your friends. the illustrations are cute too

This is a wonderful story. Beautiful illustrations. The two main characters are BIPOC and that's so refreshing to see diversity. It's important for young readers to see someone who looks like them.I also like that the book rotates - that's really fun. The message is great and the "Argument" isn't frightening. I would recommend this book to other parents and caregivers.

I thought this was a really fun book! The illustrations were entertaining, even while demonstrating the impact of emotions and what happens, both physically and emotionally, in an argument!

I loved the idea of the creature in the book and liked how the story was simple enough for children to enjoy and understand.

I loved Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoys first book together 'My Beautiful Voice' and was very excited to see they have a new book coming out together. This book did not disappoint and is equally as wonderful as their first. One Little Word is full of vibrant illustrations in an eye catching painted style that really grabs your attention. The story itself is written so well, I haven't seen another story that touches on the topic of arguments and apologising so perfectly.

This book was just alright to me. It wasn’t terrible, but it’s also not something I would pick up for me or friends. I feel like there are other books out there that tell the same type of story better. The illustrations were beautiful though.

The colours and pictures in this were very fun. The message was also very well said across the book and the idea of anthropomorphizing an argument into a creature was cute and a fun idea.

Published: 08/01/23

Thank you NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books, Frances Lincoln Children's Books for accepting my request to read and review One Little Word.

Hit. I liked this story. I liked the ending. Yes, I liked the in between. Sorry!

The illustrations were okay. I barely noticed them. I was intent on following the story.

I would pick this up for a babysitter, gift it, and teach it.

Absolutely wonderful! Together, Joseph Coelho and Allison Colpoy have created a masterpiece which deserves to be in every primary school in the country. This is a book to be shared again and again and there is so much for children to talk about and explore.
Every page, every word, every illustrative detail has been so carefully crafted to help children recognise and understand what happens to them both emotionally and physically during an argument. Allison Colpoy’s attention to detail as she crafts the faces of both protagonists and their supportive friends would provide so much material for discussion, either in the classroom or in an assembly.
The characters are enchanting, and the reality of ‘The Argument’ seen alongside its growing impact on all the children is fascinating. The use of colour and light as the children finally run out of emotional fire and find the courage to use that all important word ‘sorry’ brings such joy.
This is a truly remarkable book which has the power to make a tremendous impact. Lucky the educator that gets to use this with their students, and lucky the children to have such a book to help them understand what happens when the inevitable argument happens, and so importantly, how to fix it!

I loved this little book, as did my 4yo. The pictures are so vibrant, and the story is meaningful. I would read again.

This was a meaningful read about the impact of emotion. I adore the way the author illustrates an argument. The concept of growing and shrinking argument truly caught my attention, along with the beautiful art style.

Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Frances Lincoln Children's Books for an ARC.

I got this on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

This was a really great picture book and it shows the way an argument grows (especially among kids, but also in general) like a beast that takes over everything! Will 100% include this in future lessons about emotions and friendships!

This was a nice children’s book with an excellent lesson about how to deal with arguments, friendship, and anger management. The two friends have an argument and I love that we don’t even know why because that’s so often the case when we fight with friends. And as they argue things gets worse and worse until they finally apologize. So yea, this is the lesson we all need and I really appreciated it. The art was cute and the friends in the playground had nice character designs (I’m always happy to see more diversity in kids’ books). All in all - a great book for kids which helps teach how to address anger and arguments.

A lovely way to show emotions. This story is beautifully written and the images are exquisite. A definite addition to the PSHE library when it is published.

I thought that this was a really well written book and I loved the positive message that comes through in the writing.

It was easy to read and follow and the layout of the book was nice, clear, bright and attractive too and it dealt with the topic really well showing how an argument can get bigger and bigger before saying sorry, when it starts to shrinks and disappear

The illustrations worked well with the story and helped bring it all to life.

It is 5 stars from me for this one, very highly recommended!

A perfect read-out-loud tale about the impact of emotions and how to navigate them.

One Little Word tells the story of two best friends whose argument erupts on the playground manifesting in a monster that disturbs the friends' time.

This picture book was an inclusive, whimsical tale, with pastel illustrations bringing out the best in this simple yet beautiful art style.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the ability to read and review this book early!

The unique colors chosen for the illustrations really made them pop. It helped make the book stand out. This is a great book to teach young children about big emotions and how to deal with them. I loved the message in this story.