I recently discovered a fun Perfect Picture Book that I somehow missed a few years ago. Enjoy!
Title: Shared Space
Written & Illustrated By: Maddie Frost
Publisher/Date: Harper/2024
Suitable for Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: humor, neighbors, sharing, boundaries, compromise
Opening:
Mouse loved having his own yard.
There was never a stick in the way. Or a shrub out of shape.
He kept it simple. Organized. And tidy.
Brief Synopsis: When a pack rat moves in next door to a tidy mouse, the two learn to live as neighbors.
Links to Resources:
· Enjoy activities in your backyard or neighborhood park;
· Describe in words or pictures your ideal backyard. Does it have any structures, like a swing set or jungle gym? What plants grow there?
Why I Like this Book:
When minimalist Mouse is forced to share his yard with Pack Rat who arrives with loads of lawn decorations, Mouse first tries to ignore the clutter, then tries to quietly remove it, but he finally discovers that if both parties compromise, these opposite creatures can live in harmony.
As the story begins, readers meet Mouse – the ultimate minimalist who keeps only a few items neatly on the lawn and organizes all of his gardening tools. Sound like anyone in your household? But a new neighbor arrives with a different vision of a perfect lawn. Pack Rat collects all manner of garden ornaments and places them over the entire shared space.
How does Mouse react? He tries to ignore the clutter at first, to be polite. But as more items appear, Mouse becomes overwhelmed and hides the stuff in a big hole.
Children who grapple with overstimulation and/or a desire for a serene space will identify with Mouse’s predicament and understand his reactions. Those who are more like Pack Rat, who enjoy clutter and clanging and jumbles of stuff, will appreciate how he reacts when Mouse confesses that there’s “just too much.” That the pair ultimately compromises to forge a happy medium is a lesson that kids and adults will understand.
Frost’s bright, digitally-created illustrations bring this story to life. Adult readers in particular will appreciate the myriad lawn ornaments, including the inflatable tube man with SALE emblazoned down his side, the flock of pink flamingoes, and the army of gnomes.
For a fun read with a heart-warming reminder of the need for compromise, I heartily recommend Shared Space.
A Note about Craft:
Frost’s illustrations become more and more cluttered as Pack Rat’s possessions overwhelm poor Mouse and overtake the shared garden. And who can resist that name: Pack Rat! Perfectly describes the character and is a perfect juxtaposition to “quiet” Mouse.
This Perfect Picture Book entry is being added to Susanna Hill’s Perfect Picture Book list. Check out the other great picture books featured there!
