Mine!

Rating:
Summary: Clever and Whimsical Sharing Tale Beautifully Illustrated
Review: A very clever book which is both humorous and beautiful to see. Kevin Luthardt's story is mainly communicated through the his beautiful illustrations, and uses only a few words of text. The "Narrative" illustrations encourage the audience to enjoy details and his sly sense of humor. The drawings are vibrant and bright, and have a retro/pop art feel, which can be enjoyed by child and parent alike. A former children's librarian, Kevin is a successful artist/painter who also has his pulse on the whimsy and innocence of childhood.

The tale is very recognizable and everyone can relate to the central conflict. The story concerns two brothers who receive a stuffed dinosaur from Grandma, and each claims it as "Mine!" After a fight in which the dinosaur is torn in two, Mom sends them to their room but repairs the dinosaur. They then recognize that the dinosaur is "Ours."

Not only does the book have a very nice message, but there are plenty of subtle jokes for parents to share with the intended audience. My favorite is the family dog who constantly begs for a bone, and eventually claims the dinosaur as his own!

A very satisfying first book with particularly beautiful illustrations!