If you have a couple of children who enjoy reading, but not sharing you might want to give them this book. Or one book for each child you have. Because it they are like the mouse, deer, beer, rabbit, and fox of the story Mine! they will not want to share a treat as wonderful as this book. Or in the case of the animals, a red, delicious looking, crisp, round, sweet, apple that is hanging in the tree, ready to plop down and be dinner, snack and treat for someone. And when it does, “Mine!” the animals call out and things get out of hand. But in the end, nobody really wins. Or do they? And Candace Fleming, in sparce language shows us what greed gets us. Or, more accurately, does not get us. The text and art complement each other, helping the early reader to do some solo reading and readers who need help, can read the story as well.
The artwork of Eric Rohmann is classic Rohmann. The colors are simple, basic, but not simplistic or dull. And the details are also simple, and again, not simplistic. They are nice, solid images. Nothing fancy, but they do not need to be. Your young listener will enjoy them as they help move the story along.
My personal exposure that allowed me to read this book was because it was on Edelweiss, but you will have to wait until August 2023 to have a go at this gem (just make sure you preorder your copy at your local independent bookstore please).