Leo Lionni It's Mine!

Annotation

Although there's not as much depth as in Frederick (1966) or as much whimsy as in Alexander. . . (1969, both Pantheon), this is still a fine choice for spring story hours. Three childlike frogs spend their days bickering and baiting each other: it's mine, claims one about the water. Another purports ownership of the earthor a wormor a butterflyor whatever. It isn't until disaster almost stikes and they are saved by a toad that Milton, Rupert and Lydia realize that private ownership isn't that important. Whether grumbling for the sake of being difficult or dancing with delight, Lionni's frogs spring to life. Collages of marbled-textured paper, all in cool, crisp, spring-like colors against a stark white background, are a perfect match for this story of selfishness on the pond, carried out in beautifully simple line and language.