Mine. Yours. - a bookwrap

Unwrapping 

Mine. Yours. 

Authored by Marsha Diane Arnold

Illustrated by Qin Leng

* Age Range:  5-6

* Grade Level:  PS-2

* Hardcover: 40 pages

* Publisher: Kids Can Press

* Pub. Date: April 2, 2019

* Language:  English



Unwrapping some wonderful illustrations for you to enjoy

Unveiling the book

How do you get from pointing out... this is mine... that is yours... and now let's enjoy... ours together?   Can that transition be made so everyone is happy?  

Big Panda is nestled in his den when Little Panda randomly wanders inside and declares... " Ours? "  Oh my,  Big Panda is not amused and definitely is in no mood to share.  He emphatically says.... "Mine." He then exits with Little Panda and plunks him on a rock outside and says... "Yours."  My, he is quite cranky isn't he?  

The following morning Little Panda is ravenous and once again approaches Big Panda and wants to share his breakfast of yummy bamboo leaves, shoots and stems.  Infuriated Big Panda tells him "Mine".  Part of his heart melts about being so stern towards the innocent little fellow.  He looks around his den and offers Little Panda a kite which he hopes will make him happy and go away.  "Yours"... he says.  

Little Panda is overjoyed with his new gift.  He runs about trying hard to get his kite to fly.  Hurray it's finally airborne how fun!  Then things start to get chaotic. The kite's tale gets all tangled up in the other animal's activities causing chaos and damage.  Over and over again Little Panda hears... this is "Mine"... the kite is "Yours."  Although Little Panda wants to make things right with the other animals the pesky old wind has other ideas. It keeps blowing his kite on and on.  The animals themselves get twisted up in the  unforgiving string as they try to retrieve their belongings.  Oh my!  They need to be rescued.  Whatever shall they do?   Finally they are saved and together, as a group, they learn the meaning of "Ours" and how sharing can be a truly beautiful thing.  

This book features animals that are found throughout Asia: giant pandas, pangolin, fishing cat, river otter, Chinese jumping mice, yellow-throated martins and golden snug-nosed monkey just to name a few.  The very simple and sparse text is greatly enriched by illustrations that are rendered in pen and ink and water-colour. ( my all time favourite style).  "Mine. Yours." is about kindness, inclusiveness, friendship, compassion and community.  The names of all the Asian animals are listed at the beginning of the book so the reader can identify them correctly.  I highly recommend this book. 

Storywraps Rating - 5 +++ Hugs!!!!!

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Meet the author

Marsha Diane Arnold grew up on the Kansas prairies. It was there she developed a love of nature and home and a curiosity about almost everything. From childhood she has been an avid reader, but never thought about writing until she was grown with children of her own. Their antics, adventures and storytelling led her to write a syndicated, award-winning column, homegrown treasures. But it was picture books that held her heart. She felt that the best of them polished an idea to its brilliant essence in a memorable way. That's what she wanted to do, too.

Now Marsha Diane Arnold's picture books have sold over one million copies and have been described as “whimsical,” “inspiring” and “uplifting.” Called a “born storyteller” by the media, Her books have been selected for the Smithsonian Notable Books for Children list and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and have garnered awards such as the Ridgway Award for Best First Book and several state Children's Choice awards. Recent books include Galápagos Girl / Galapagueña, a bilingual book about a young girl growing up on the Galápagos Islands, and Lost. Found., a Junior Library Guild selection illustrated by Caldecott medalist Matthew Cordell, which received three starred reviews. She is especially excited to make her Kids Can Press debut with Mine. Yours., illustrated by the talented Qin Leng.

Marsha was born and raised in Kansas, lived most of her life in Sonoma County, California, and now lives with her husband in Alva, Florida. She still loves nature and nothing makes her happier than standing in her backyard in the midst of purple martins swooping for insects, unless it's sitting in her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren.

Twitter: @MarshaDArnold

About the illustrator

Qin Leng was born in Shanghai, China, and later moved to France and then Montreal, Canada. She now lives in Toronto, Canada, with her twin sister and works as a designer and illustrator. Her father, an artist himself, was a great influence on her. She grew up surrounded by paintings, and it became second nature for her to express herself through art. Qin graduated from the Mel Hoppenheim School of Cinema and has received many awards for her animated short films and other works. From very early on, she has loved to portray the innocence of children and has developed a passion for children's books. In 2009, she illustrated her first picture book and has been busy ever since. She has published numerous picture books in Canada, the United States, the UK, France, Sweden, Hong Kong and South Korea for various publishers. Her books have been nominated for numerous prizes, including the prestigious Governor General's Literary Award.

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