I Can Share: A Lift-the-Flap Book

by Karen Katz

That’s not fair! It’s mine! For toddlers, sharing can be a hard concept to grasp, but with the help of this book, they’ll learn that sharing can also be fun! Featuring simple, repetitive text and adorable toddlers, this playful little book is the perfect way to introduce the magic of sharing.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Juvenile

14 pages, Novelty Book

First published October 7, 2004

About the author

Karen Katz has written and illustrated many books for children, including The Colors of Us, Can You Say Peace, My First Ramadan, Counting Kisses and Where is Baby's Belly Button. Long inspired by folk art from around the world, she was inspired to write her first book, Over the Moon, when she and her husband adopted their daughter from Guatemala, and she wanted to tell the story of welcoming Lena into their lives. Katz loves to paint and experiment with texture, color, collage and pattern. Besides an author and illustrator, she has been a costume designer, quilt maker, fabric artist and graphic designer. Katz and her family divide their time between New York City and Saugerties, New York.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/karenkatz

Reviews

[Robert Bevan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Problem: "These are my raisins."
Solution: "Go get your own raisins."

Problem: "This is my tricycle."
Solution: "You can ride on the back."

Problem: "This is my new doll."
Solution: "Here, play with my old crappy doll."

Problem: "This is my shovel."
Solution: "If I can't play with the shovel, nobody can."

Problem: "This is my friend."
Solution: "I don't care if she wants to play with you and your ball. We're playing dress up, so suit up or get the hell out."

Now I know how to share.

[Viridiana Rico · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book because it talks about the concept of sharing and how every time you share you can make new friends. All children go through the stage were they do not want to share their personal belongings or other objects that are in their classroom with other children. I believe this will be a helpful in teaching children the importance of sharing. I like how the characters in the book have facial expressions, and when they share their stuff, they have a smile. As I am reading, I can tell the children, "look they are sharing and look how happy they are and having a fun time. " The illustrations in the book are colorful.

[Skylar Burris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have had many of these books for my daughter and I have found them useful; this one, however, is an exception. The concept of sharing communicated here seems a little...off. It's not quite the message I want my child to get about what truly constitutes "sharing." I ended up getting rid of it.

[Telia Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lift-the-flap book which I thought was pretty cool and interactive for young children. The book was about sharing and it displayed different ways you can share even if the item is your favorite. Some examples was instead of giving up your favorite doll that you’re playing with, you can offer the other person another one of your dolls to play with. It also gave an example of what to do if you do not want to share your bike with someone. The book stated that you can offer to ride the person on the bike with you. It also spoke about sharing food and if you do not want to share your snack, you can offer the other person the same snack that they can have for themselves. It also mentioned how to share your friends with others where everyone learned to play together. I would recommend this book to teach young children alternative ways to share and play where it does not always involve them having to give up the things they like to satisfy others.

[RJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

As other readers have observed, this is an odd sharing book. I feel like the author (whose books are usually fine!) was trying to find compromises. I can understand in some cases - it can be tough for a kid with a beloved toy to relinquish it, and sometimes trying to share something that has special meaning to one kid and doesn't really to the other can end in hurt feelings, when different solutions than "just give your demanding playmate your prized possession" could be explored. Exploring boundaries in a sharing book could be really interesting! But this is not that nuanced - every example of "sharing" begins with the kid who "knows how to share" saying "NO! YOU CAN'T HAVE IT! But..." And most of the compromises wouldn't work in the real world. If don't happen to have a spare box of raisins, share your raisins!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a little kid book for young toddlers who are just now starting to understand the way that sharing works. This can also apply to young elementary schoolers who need a quick reminder. Sharing is one of the most important things to do at school. I would recommend this book to any families with young children. I say this because if they are having trouble sharing then you can show them this book and then they will be reminded what to do and how to make the right decisions. This book I believe would be great for teachers. During their lesson because not only does it have a good meaning but it also has hidden flaps to make the book more engaging and willing to include the child at the same time. This book is so positive and sweet. I would read this book to a class.

[olivia toko · Rating 3 out of 5]

I Can Share simplifies the task of sharing for children. Sharing can be especially hard for children. I can share talks about why we should share and respect others. The book gives many examples that includes the problem followed by a solution. The idea of sharing in this book is a little different though as the children in the book never actually share rather then just distract with another item.

[Tristan · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I first picked up this book, I was refreshed by the take that sharing often involves compromise instead of sacrifice... Until I realized that was *all* the book was about! Entirely omitting that sometimes sharing involves breaking your cookie in half or letting someone play with your toy put forth a rather selfish view of sharing.

[Scott Cahalan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book does not describe sharing the way that I would describe sharing. It really never has the children truly sharing. They are just giving their friends something different. The pages in the book are nice that they fold out. That will be entertaining for the young reader.

[Little Champs]

2874

[Sarah Jewett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I know as sharing...not how I was raised to share.

My son adores thia book though.

[Jenna Kistner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book "I Can Share" talks about the fun of sharing with others. This book helps children to realize that sharing is caring with your friends and peers.

[Alana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't quite understand the solutions she comes up with, it's not really sharing. It's compromise, I guess, but not really sharing.

[Amanda Novak]

Is it just me or is a book called "I Can Share" about every way not to share the items?

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book to my granddaughters. They learn about sharing.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still searching for a really fabulous sharing book.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

When my toddler picked this book off the shelf at the library, I thought this is a great choice. A lesson about sharing can never go wrong when there are two under 4 playing together.
Well, this book wasn't really about sharing or at least my definition of it. For example, one instance states "My bike. You can't rise it. But maybe I'll take you for a ride." And another "My snack. You can't eat it. But maybe I'll give a box of your own [raisins]."
I fully understand that young children are not always developmentally ready for the concept of sharing but this is the time to teach them. And since my two littles readily share toys and snacks (sometimes with help and sometimes all on their own), I think the author missed the chances to have the kids share and not give the other children their own or some other twist.
We will not be borrowing this book again.

[jacky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I grabbed this because its Karen Katz. I had no idea that Natalie would ask to hear it again and again and again in a row. I liked how the sharing was realistic for toddlers. It wasn't about giving up what you are already playing with, which is how most parents make their kids share. Instead, it was all about finding ways to compromise. Natalie started to say "That's nice" to the pictures of the kids sharing.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Looking for books about sharing for SS and SD, especially simple for SS. But this is a bit too simple and in some ways it is hard to see that there is sharing going on. I mean, you lift the flaps and see different ways of sharing that work in all situations. But the lead up to some of those with "you can't...." I don't know if SS would get that. May skip this for now.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dislike the artwork. I dislike that sharing in this book rarely involves actually letting the other child borrow/share the same object. It's always, "You can't have this, but you can have this instead." That's hardly sharing. Not worth buying.

[Shala Abbott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe that the author knows how to relate to children. I work with young children everyday. This book will help me promote positive social skill amongst the children. I did like the easy text also for beginner readers.

[Stephanie Klaren]

This is a great book to show young children how to share and play nice with others. It starts out each activity with a child telling another no but then under the flip is a better way that the children can play. The pictures are great and the book is full of flip up flaps.

[Meeshboston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elijah really likes this book, although it took him a couple reads to warm up to it. And, I'm happy to report that it has helped with his sharing skills!

[Sarah Stahlman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book for kids.

[Dobby Girl · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the very first page, i could not understand. Instead of her doll, the boy use another doll? And the boy who holds a soccer ball wants to play soccer but instead play dress-up? It was weird...

[Karissa Butikofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a flip up book about sharing. The child doesn't want to share but comes up with ideas on what the other child can do to share things.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The child defines things in her life as hers, but offers alternatives to another child so that they can do the same activity with her.

[Brittany Schaefer]

In this book the pages stand out because you have to lift the flap on every other, and its also a great way to show kids how to share.

[Brooke Parmely]

Great book to teach toddlers what it means to share. Cute illustrations!

[Jo Miller]

Interactive book about sharing. It has "you can't" but then offers an alternative with a "but maybe" to help teach sharing.