THAT'S (NOT) MINE

The creators of 2015 Geisel Medal winner You Are (Not) Small take on an even more fundamental concept.

It’s cast as an escalating argument over possession of a certain comfy chair. The bearlike creature sitting on it with a knitting project refuses to be moved by a smaller arrival’s arguments that “I was sitting in it before,” and “I had it first”: “I have it now. It’s mine.” When the small one wheels in an invitingly squeaky office chair, though, the big one happily switches and goes sailing off to a mighty CRASH! at the edge of the page. The argument starts up again with roles reversed. Weyant leaves plenty of white space around his shaggy figures for the brief but emphatic exchanges of views supplied by Kang and occasional big sound effects that culminate, following a brisk tussle, with an immense, climactic “IT’S MINE!!!” Exhausted, the two come to their senses at last, exchange apologies and saunter off to play—leaving the chair to be occupied by a third claimant. Other takes on the topic, of which there are many, generally lead to the idea of sharing…but going off to do something together makes a serviceable resolution too.

A simple, direct addition to the “sharing” shelf.