View source for So Few Of Me by Peter H Reynolds

{{infobox2
|title=So Few Of Me
|author=Peter H Reynolds
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=A beautifully told story about Leo and all that he had to do, even when he was joined by more Leos. Reassuring for a child - and many adults would benefit from reading it too!
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|pages=32
|publisher=Walker Books Ltd
|date=September 2007
|isbn=978-1406305579
|aznuk=140630557X
|aznus=0763626236
|cover=140630557X
}}
Leo was a very busy boy with so many things to do that he decided it would be best if he made a list. But the list of things to do just got longer and longer.

''So few of me and so much to do.
If only there were TWO of me.''

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Leo is amazed to find another Leo ready to help him with all that needs to be done. The second Leo did help, but then HE found more jobs that needed to be done and the list just kept growing. Soon they were joined by a third Leo, but it wasn't enough.

Four Leos, it was thought, would make a good team, but then they were joined by a fifth, as supermarket trolleys are pushed, telephones answered, plants watered, the bird box painted and windows cleaned. Violins are practiced, cats bathed, dogs walked and Grandads telephoned... 

Of course, once there were five Leos a sixth was needed to organise them and then another member of the team came along. It quickly became obvious that one of the problems with having more Leos was that this created more work - just think of all the washing! What was needed was anther Leo. They all worked furiously, but even nine Leos failed to get everything done and a tenth came along ''each one busier than the next.''

Finally, Leo was exhausted and slipped away to take a nap, but he was found by the other nine Leos who told him in no uncertain terms that ''Dreaming was NOT on the list!''

Suddenly Leo knew the answer. I'm not going to tell you what it is, but it's beautiful in its simplicity and so, so obvious that Leo must have wondered why he'd never thought of it before.

Oh, this is a lovely story and it's one that can be appreciated by all ages and not just the five to eight year olds at which it's pitched. It perfectly captures the way that we can all get caught up in the hurly burly of doing things without stopping to think. The language is clear and simple, almost lyrical and the message that more effort does not always mean that more is achieved is delivered with a light hand. I've handed this book to a few adults and all have smiled - one or two have looked quite thoughtful.

The pictures lift a good story above the ordinary. They're deceptive. They look like simple line drawings but look a little closer and you'll see that each page is a gold mine of detail - the cat that's been swept up with the leaves, the bird perched on the line just where the clothes are going to be hung out to dry, or the organisational chart provided by the sixth Leo. Some of it will be a little over the child's head, but there will be plenty to discuss.

The message is reassuring particularly to a child who is finding school a little stressful. It's important to do your best, but dreaming and enjoyment are important too.

I'd like to thank the lovely people at Walker Books for sending us this wonderful book.

If your child would enjoy this book then you might also like to look at [[It Moved!]] by Anne Fine.

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