I'm Number One

Once their owner leaves for school a trio of soft toys – a rag doll, a duck and a pig – are harried and badgered by Number One, a wind-up toy soldier. The bombastic bully bosses them about and mocks their efforts to wind him up as well as their attire. Soon he is not only wrapped up in himself, but in Maddy’s hat, Sally’s rucksack and Sid’s scarf. Fortunately he is able to laugh at himself too once his victims start a whispering, mocking campaign of their own and all are friends once more on their owner’s return from school.

Bob Graham’s illustrations take us down to floor level, into the small world of the toys’ conflict in this humorous and non-threatening anti-bullying lesson.