Mine! A story of not sharing by Klara Persson and Charlotte Ramol. Translated by Nichola Smalley
The subtitle highlights the theme of this book, especially as the cover picture shows Sally pushing a toilet into her wardrobe. Dealing with a perennial problem, that of keeping things for themselves, the book will instantly appeal to adults and teachers, older kids and younger, for whom sharing is a concern within their household or classroom.
Nico is coming to play for the afternoon, and Sally doesn’t want him to play with her squirrel, so Mum suggests she puts it into the wardrobe and play with it later. Sally then adds the train and the truck, the fish and the fishing rod. Then this and this, as she keeps giving Mum more things to put into the wardrobe. When Mum leaves the room, Sally keeps adding more. She even shovels her bed into the wardrobe. Then her favourite puppy picture. Not being content with this, she goes into the lounge and takes the TV, sofa and plants. Then the bathroom is cleared of its bath, wash basin and toilet. The wardrobe must be stuffed full, but Sally puts in the kitchen fridge and even Mum. When Nico turns up to play as well, he is packed away.
The startling illustrations will entreat the readers as they peruse the detail on each page, set against the backdrop of Sally’s bedroom and that wardrobe. The images underline the things found in each room, and readers will be amazed at what can be fitted into the wardrobe, thinking about the space inside the wardrobe and the size of each of the things she stores away. One double page will need to be turned around the see the effect of putting everything in the wardrobe, seeing the whole floor empty, comparing it with the double page later on showing all the goods as they spill out of the wardrobe.
When Sally hears lots of noise from inside the wardrobe, she is upset as they appear to be playing without her. She opens the door and all the contents spill out over the floor. And out of the muddle comes a solution to the problem. For now!
Themes: Sharing, Greed, Play, STEM, Size, Friendship.
Fran Knight