Shared Space: A Hilarious Story About an Orderly Mouse and Messy Pak-Rat Learning Boundaries and Friendship for Kids

by Maddie Frost

From beloved author-illustrator Maddie Frost comes an unlikely friendship story about setting boundaries!  Shared Space tells what happens when messy Pak-rat moves in next door to an orderly Mouse. Perfect for social emotional learning. Mouse liked having his own yard. There was never a stick out of place. There was room to stretch. Room to move. But when Pak-Rat moves in next door, Mouse realized two A neighbor meant sharing the yard. It was going to be a problem. You’ll cheer for both Mouse and Pak-Rat in this hilarious story about honest communication, boundaries, and yes—friendship!

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Animals, Humor, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published April 9, 2024

About the author

Maddie Frost has written and illustrated many books for young readers, including Wakey Birds. She lives with her husband and dog outside Boston.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A neat a tidy mouse has to learn how to share space with a literal pack rat. Frost has a really fun, cartoony style and this teaches a good lesson about communication and compromise.

[Suebee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite picture books of 2024. I highly recommend this for school or library purchase.

I'm a "minimalist-ish" mom of 3 boys and we (especially me) laughed out loud at this story, which is all too relatable in today's "buy more consume more" culture. There's so much room for discussion with this book - how to share a space with a neighbor / friend who has different preferences, how much stuff is too much?, how much do we need?, do we feel calmer with more stuff or less stuff?, how to pass on items we don't need anymore.

Mouse likes his lawn tidy and free of ornaments, but when Pack Rat moves into the apartment next to Mouse, Pack Rat covers the lawn in pink flamingos, cat gnomes, and a blow up inflatable wobbly man guy. The hilarious illustrations of Mouse's reactions will have you laughing and wanting to act them out.

Mouse can't take it any more and digs a hole in the middle of the night and buries all the stuff. (Which had us giggling and reminded us a bit of "Creepy Carrots."). "Friendly helpful" neighbor Mole unburies all the items and Mouse has to communicate to Pack Rat that he can't take ALL THE STUFF.

[Amy Pickett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mouse lives in Apartment 2B, inside a tree stump. He loves having his own yard, which he keeps perfectly landscaped and tidy, with not a leaf out of place. When Pak-Rat moves into Apartment 2A, things change. Pak-Rat has a penchant for "lawn flair" and covers the lawn with pinwheels, windchimes, pink flamingos, garden gnomes, and more. Mouse tries to “squeak up” but Pak-Rat can’t hear him over all the twirling, chiming, and spinning. At his wit’s end, Mouse waits until nighttime, digs a deep hole, and buries all of Pak-Rat’s lawn décor. But after Mole discovers the buried treasure while digging a tunnel and puts it all back above-ground, it’s time for Mouse to tell Pak-Rat the truth about how he feels. With communication - and a little compromise - Mouse discovers that having a friend to share his space with is actually a wonderful thing. Author and illustrator Maddie Frost delivers valuable lessons about the benefits of honesty and flexibility embedded within a humorous storyline!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Maddie Frost proves that she is the absolute queen of the emotionally astute picture book. Mouse likes things tidy in his yard. New neighbor Pack Rat moves in and is MESSY! Mouse puts up with it at first, then takes matters into his own hands in an unkind way, then apologizes and the two neighbors learn to live together with a dose of compromise and direct communication. I’m obsessed with this author and her ability to teach children valuable emotional and interpersonal skills in the context of a very engaging and interesting story. Yay for healthy conflict!!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two unlikely neighbors end up sharing a yard, which causes trouble when their aesthetic sensibilities clash. As the two learn how to negotiate these differences, they end up as friends. Cute illustrations with lots of action and witty repartee between these two rodents make this story enjoyable to read aloud for story time. The book could also be used to negotiate sibling conflicts over shared space.

[Denise Lauron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim, from the library.

This was a cute story with cute illustrations about learning to compromise and to speak up for yourself. I loved the way that Mouse let it get too far and being forced to say something. The illustrations of the lawn ornaments were fun!

I recommend this book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Pak - Rat moved in next door, he brought all his lawn decorations with him. This is something is neighbor, Mouse, isn't too crazy about. He likes a nice, tidy lawn. But because Mouse is polite, he tries to ignore what's happening. Until he finally snaps and buries everything in the yard. But that doesn't work, either. Hmmm ... maybe Mouse should just tell Pak-Rat how he feels.

[Panda Incognito · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are super colorful and cute, and the story is funny. I like the message about communication and compromise, and it is particularly effective because the author builds the tension so well.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This picture book is presented in a comic book format, with several pages using word bubbles for dialogue. Fun illustrations + garden gnomes and miniature glow-in-the-dark unicorns. Love.

Themes: neighbors, sharing, humor, animals
Ages: K-2nd grade
Pub year: 2024

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse lives in a duplex and loves his orderly house and yard. In moves Pak-Rat who lives to collect and loves to share his collection with the world. Since they are in a "shared space," both animals have to learn to live with someone who is not like them.

Cute and easy-going, this story and where it is heading is apparent from the start. Mouse needs to learn to ease up and Pak-Rat needs to be more aware of his surroundings. It's a straightforward SEL lesson in a 30-something page book. It didn't wow me, but I think kids will respond to it and it has a lesson. Seems a bit simple, but I am trying to take myself out of the equation and think about how kids will like it.

[Liz Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun way to talk about how we are alike and different but can all share the same space. Compromise.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mouse's new neighbor is Pack Rat. They have to figure out how to share the lawn with very different styles. Would be good for when students need to share a space and find it difficult.

[Tonya]

Great read for school community that lives in apartment or condo's
-focus is on compromise and sharing space

[Holly Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lesson book. Format and illustrations are kid-friendly. Cute. I just wish it would always work out like it does in the book.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An unlikely friendship develops when a messy Pak-rat moves in next door to an orderly Mouse.

[Mo · Rating 4 out of 5]

So relateable! Love all the attention to detail in the illustrations and how laidback Pak-Rat was about compromising with Mouse.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mouse loves having his own yard. When Pak-rat moves in and starts putting yard decorations EVERYWHERE, Mouse knew sharing was going to be a problem. Mouse tries several solutions to solve the problem before settling on one that both people can live with.

Could use to discuss setting boundaries, sharing, being a complex thinker and problem solver, and being a friend.