Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Mine!
Illustrator: Mies van Hout
Picture Book
For ages 4 to 6
Boyds Mills Press, 2007 ISBN: 978-1590785065
One night, when Charlotte goes to bed, she finds that there is a small ghost under the covers. The ghost grabs all the covers and shouts “Mine!” Charlotte, being an extremely sensible sort of person, tells him that it is her bed and to move over.
The next day the little ghost makes it clear that he is not going to share anything with Charlotte. He refuses to share the bath toys, he won’t let Charlotte have any of the toast, he won’t share any of the toys with her, and he says “Mine!” all the time. In the end Charlotte, who has been very patient all day, decides to go off and play by herself.
It isn’t long however before the ghost, who really would like to learn how to play with Charlotte, floats up to the girl to see what she is doing. And thus begins his education on how to play and share with others. By the end of the day the little ghost is having a splendid time and in the evening he and Charlotte make pancakes together.
Then a man from the nearby haunted castle stops by. One of his ghosts has gone missing and he is looking for it. Has Charlotte by any chance seen a small white ghost who “won’t share?”
In this charming picture book little children will find out how rewarding, and fun, it can be if they share with others. Adults will enjoy the clever ways in which Charlotte gets around the little ghost’s declarations of “Mine!” Wonderfully soft and highly expressive illustrations perfectly compliment the text in this special picture book.
