CHARACTER COUNTS!: What inspired you to write One?
KATHRYN OTOSHI: Originally, it started as a story about physical differences, about children with different colored faces. Instead of white, black, brown skin tones, etc., I used colors like green, purple, blue, and orange and made the characters splotches of colors instead of faces. It was a risk because of the abstraction, but it gave me more leeway to touch upon complex themes.

CC!: Was your goal to inspire kids to assert themselves and strengthen character?
OTOSHI: The theme was acceptance and tolerance. How one voice can count and affect change. Many times we think "I'm so small. What can I do?" But we do have an effect. It's about changing thinking. When one person stands up for something, it might be just enough to tip the next person over and inspire him or her to also stand up.

CC!: Did you research bullying beforehand?
OTOSHI: I was introduced to Diana Flasher, who speaks to schools about bullying. Diana gave me some handouts about bullies and their motivations. What surprised me was that sometimes bullies don't want to change, even when they're talked to and reasoned with. That's why it's important for children to know that while it's good to stand up for themselves, it's absolutely vital to have an adult address the situation once it reaches a certain level. There are times for all of us when things are too big to handle.

Ellen Dodge, a well-known communication expert, also had a big impact. At that time, my book ended with the Colors standing up to the bully and "Red turns even redder and rolls away." Ellen told me, "In your quest to have everyone stand up for themselves, make sure they don't bully the bully." As life has it, I had a friend whose little girl was acting out her frustration by hitting other kids. She told me in near tears how hard it was to be the parent of a bully. So I rethought Red's character and made him change, too.

CC!: Were you bullied in school?
OTOSHI: Not any more than other kids, but I was one of the few minorities in my school. I can't tell you how long I wished I had blonde hair and blue eyes! There was one other Asian girl who couldn't speak English well and was bullied mercilessly. I don't know what became of her, but every now and then I think of her. I wish I had spoken up. I was like the colors in my story who don't like what they see but don't know what to do. I didn't think I was hurting anyone by not saying anything. Or maybe I was afraid people would realize I was Asian, too, and pick on me. I'm hoping my story will be a launching pad for parents and teachers to discuss acceptance and differences so children will know what to say or do when a situation arises.

CC!: In One, Red is the bully, yet that's your favorite color. Were you showing empathy for bullies?
OTOSHI: Colors have such an emotional quality. I don't want children to think, "RED is bad and BLUE is good." What I was trying to show is that all colors have wonderful qualities, just like people. And it's true. I do love red. It's a fiery, bold color...a great color.

CC!: Can intolerant people ever change?
OTOSHI: Oh yes, I believe so. We have to believe so! One teacher told me she sat bullies down with the kids they had antagonized. She asked the bullies how it would feel if someone punched them and called them names. She didn't judge or condemn; she made them think. It was a very enlightening discussion. The bullies were surprised at what they learned, said they wouldn't like what they'd done, and stopped pushing the other kids around.

CC!: What makes a successful children's book?
OTOSHI: The text, the illustrations, the design, the font, even the size of the book is important. A children's book is so limited in text that you must boil the story down to its core essence: What is each page saying in the least amount of words possible. It's like haiku. It's about rhythm, simplicity, poetry, intuition, and understanding the form. It's also crucial to read the story to children, parents, teachers, booksellers, and librarians before it's released. They are your audience.

CC!: What can children's books do that other books can't?
OTOSHI: The illustrations are as important as the text and say what the text does not. If your story starts out "Morris was a lonely mole," the illustrator has a wonderful opportunity to show how lonely Morris really is. Is he so lonely there are cobwebs on his doorknob? Briar branches blocking his pathway? A new and shiny welcome mat that's never been used? Pictures are a glorious way to engage young readers because they understand images before they learn to read.

CC!: What is your favorite children's book?
OTOSHI: The Gardener by David Small and Sarah Stewart. To me, it is a perfect children's book. I love it because they take risks. The story takes place during the Depression, rather a daunting subject. It starts with a girl who must live with her grumpy uncle while her parents find work. We get closer to this girl, who loves to garden and give to others. Slowly, she changes everyone's life. It's a wonderful, emotional story packed within 32 pages. Amazing!

I also adore Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann. What a prime example of showing in the illustrations what the text does not. And, of course, Maurice Sendak's classic Where the Wild Things Are.

CC!: What are the challenges of teaching character in a children's book?
OTOSHI: Don't sound too preachy! Children's books are all about showing, not telling. Character is best defined by action. The tricky part is to show this through illustration and with the least amount of text possible. In the end, you have to hope and believe what you've done will have meaning to your readers. If you're able to create something that influences a young reader in some positive way, however minor, that is true success.