Mine!

Starred review from April 15, 2017
Mine! Or is it?For blue mouse and orange mouse, sharing does not come naturally. The turf war begins with a huge rock--or what appears to be a rock--then progresses to a hunk of cheese, a wrapped present, a pile of rocks, and more. For the majority of this graphically simple picture book, done in a palette Mack limits to black, white, blue, gray, and orange, the gutter separates the mice as they compete to own the biggest and most. When they do appear on the same page, one is usually preparing to inflict damage on the other. At the climax, the two appear on facing pages, fists up, fighting mad, and the stark separation between the orange on the left page and the blue on the right foreshadows a grand battle. Only a force of nature neither of them anticipates brings a change of heart. The perfect parable for kids who just can't share, this story also pokes fun at excess and competition over stuff. Given the gender-neutrality of both mice, readers of any gender can see bits of themselves in these hotheaded mice. True to the book's message, "MINE" is the only word that appears in it, and the color of the word always matches that of the speaking mouse. A behavioral window for some, a mirror for many, and a delightful book for all. (Picture book. 3-6)

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June 1, 2017

PreS-Gr 1-Using just one word and two forms of punctuation, Mack presents a clever story about two mice who both lay claim to what seems to be a very large rock. The pen-and-ink drawings feature brightly colored, cartoonlike pops of yellow, orange, and blue, and both mice exhibit a wide array of emotions in their ridiculous attempts to claim the rock. Happiness, sadness, surprise, and anger follow silly tricks, enticements, and distractions. When the rock turns out to be more than just a rock, both the characters and readers are challenged to consider the concepts of possession, sharing, and ownership. Though minimalist in humor and illustration, this picture book is conceptually rich and a whole lot of fun. VERDICT Mack provides a comical foundation for a discussion or storytime about sharing and possessiveness. A playful, worthy addition to public and school libraries.-Brianne Colombo, Fairfield Free Public Library, NJ

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