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Mine!:
Start with one rock. Add two mice. The end result? A never-ending battle! Or is it? Using only one word, along with many brightly colored and lively illustrations, Jeff Mack brings his hallmark humor to this rollicking book that will have readers of every age reconsidering whether "Mine!" is the best answer.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2017
3 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Mack
62 books89 followersBorn in Syracuse, New York, Jeff Mack has written and illustrated a long list of picture books, chapter books, and early readers, including Clueless McGee, Good News Bad News, Frog and Fly, the Hippo and Rabbit series, and Hush Little Polar Bear.
He has also illustrated many books for other authors, including James Howe's Bunnicula and Friends series and Eve Bunting's Hurry! Hurry!, one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2007.
At home in Easthampton, Massachusetts, he continues to write, illustrate, and visit schools and libraries to talk about his work. Visit him at www.jeffmack.com.
Bio taken from Jeff's website: http://www.jeffmack.com/short_biograp....
More biographical information can be found at http://www.jeffmack.com/biography.html.
He has also illustrated many books for other authors, including James Howe's Bunnicula and Friends series and Eve Bunting's Hurry! Hurry!, one of School Library Journal’s Best Books of 2007.
At home in Easthampton, Massachusetts, he continues to write, illustrate, and visit schools and libraries to talk about his work. Visit him at www.jeffmack.com.
Bio taken from Jeff's website: http://www.jeffmack.com/short_biograp....
More biographical information can be found at http://www.jeffmack.com/biography.html.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
July 9, 2023
Esta divertido, y creo que es un buen libro para iniciar la lectura con los pequeños de la casa. Además, el final me dio mucha risa aunque definitivamente es inesperado 😅
July 27, 2017
My two-year-old laughed and laughed at this one, even though I'm fairly sure he didn't understand what was going on in the story. But he certainly could relate to the word "mine."
June 11, 2018
Twee muizen vinden een rots, maar van wie is ie?
Ik was meteen verliefd op de cover, en dan vooral om het felle geel van de cover. Plus ik hou wel van boeken over delen, in ieder geval, ik ging uit dat dit uiteindelijk een wijze les over delen zou worden. Ik zal niet veel verklappen, maar nee.
Twee muizen zijn aan het vechten om een grote rots. Telkens probeert de een de ander van de rots te krijgen om daarna vol trots: 'Van mij!' te roepen. En dat doen ze op de meest uitlopende manieren. Van kadootjes, tot valstrikken, tot leugens. Deze twee muizen willen allebei de rots en ze willen niet delen. Echt niet. Je kunt je voorstellen dat dit gedoe echt helemaal uit de hand loopt, maar ik weet zeker dat je, net als ik, niet DAT had verwacht toen het gebeurde.
Ja, ik had veel verwachtingen voor het einde, zoals een wijze les in delen, want daar houden die kinderboeken oh zo van (tot vervelens toe moet ik zeggen). Of misschien dat ze de rots op gingen splitsen. Maar DAT? Nee, DAT had ik niet verwacht en ik moet zeggen dat ik wel even moest proesten. Tja, daar kunnen de twee muizen echt niet tegenop. Sorry jongens (of meisjes). En natuurlijk gebeurd er daarna dat. Die twee zullen het nooit leren gok ik. :P
En ik hou van kinderboeken die een kleurenschema hebben. Zoals Wigglesbottom Primary die telkens een andere hoofdkleur heeft. Deze heeft er zelfs vier. Geel, oranje, blauw, grijs. Hartstikke leuk en het is ook van dat mooie geel/oranje/blauw. Je hebt soms dat er fletse kleuren worden gebruikt, maar deze gaat van het felle uit. Heerlijk!
Dus ja, een best leuk boek waar ik wel om moet lachen. En ik geef ook wel extra punten voor eens niet een wijze les, want echt dat wordt best vervelend.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Ik was meteen verliefd op de cover, en dan vooral om het felle geel van de cover. Plus ik hou wel van boeken over delen, in ieder geval, ik ging uit dat dit uiteindelijk een wijze les over delen zou worden. Ik zal niet veel verklappen, maar nee.
Twee muizen zijn aan het vechten om een grote rots. Telkens probeert de een de ander van de rots te krijgen om daarna vol trots: 'Van mij!' te roepen. En dat doen ze op de meest uitlopende manieren. Van kadootjes, tot valstrikken, tot leugens. Deze twee muizen willen allebei de rots en ze willen niet delen. Echt niet. Je kunt je voorstellen dat dit gedoe echt helemaal uit de hand loopt, maar ik weet zeker dat je, net als ik, niet DAT had verwacht toen het gebeurde.
Ja, ik had veel verwachtingen voor het einde, zoals een wijze les in delen, want daar houden die kinderboeken oh zo van (tot vervelens toe moet ik zeggen). Of misschien dat ze de rots op gingen splitsen. Maar DAT? Nee, DAT had ik niet verwacht en ik moet zeggen dat ik wel even moest proesten. Tja, daar kunnen de twee muizen echt niet tegenop. Sorry jongens (of meisjes). En natuurlijk gebeurd er daarna dat. Die twee zullen het nooit leren gok ik. :P
En ik hou van kinderboeken die een kleurenschema hebben. Zoals Wigglesbottom Primary die telkens een andere hoofdkleur heeft. Deze heeft er zelfs vier. Geel, oranje, blauw, grijs. Hartstikke leuk en het is ook van dat mooie geel/oranje/blauw. Je hebt soms dat er fletse kleuren worden gebruikt, maar deze gaat van het felle uit. Heerlijk!
Dus ja, een best leuk boek waar ik wel om moet lachen. En ik geef ook wel extra punten voor eens niet een wijze les, want echt dat wordt best vervelend.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
April 22, 2017
I'll just confess it up front: I think this author/illustrator is brilliant. His stories always contain simple but important messages or life lessons and are fun to read. They usually contain a surprise or two. In this picture book, two mice lay claim to a rock, and begin a fierce battle over whose rock it is. The mixed media illustrations feature several scenes of conflict in which first one and then the other claim that the rock is "MINE!", a phrase that is used repeatedly throughout the books as they try to trick or out-muscle one another. Things escalate from page to page, and it looks as though there is not going to be an easy resolution to the conflict. But suddenly, as it turns out, the rock is no inanimate object, and the two friends realize they've made a very big mistake. Not only is this one fun to read aloud, but it will delight just about anyone who listens to it, even while making it clear that first impressions can be wrong and that it might be better sometimes to agree to disagree or to share. Still, as the story concludes, the battle rages on, just in another direction.
June 18, 2017
Two mice discover a large rock that they both want to own. What ensues is a one-word argument back and forth between them and an ever-escalating battle of dominance. The mice use cheese to tempt each other along with wrapped gifts. Other rocks also play a role and pile around the bigger rock. There are walls of rock, knocked down by a wrecking ball. Finally, the two mice are together on the rock, arguing with one another. That’s when the ending takes a great twist.
Mack has a delightful sense of humor and timing in this picture book. The writing could not be simpler, with only one word being used in the entire book. The illustrations work particularly well with their limited palette and bright colors. They have the feel of the vintage Spy vs. Spy, with the two mice in their distinct colors battling one another. There are sneaky attacks and all out blasts. It’s a wild look at the hazards of not sharing.
Great for toddlers learning about sharing, reading this aloud will have you shouting “Mine!” in all sorts of tones. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
Mack has a delightful sense of humor and timing in this picture book. The writing could not be simpler, with only one word being used in the entire book. The illustrations work particularly well with their limited palette and bright colors. They have the feel of the vintage Spy vs. Spy, with the two mice in their distinct colors battling one another. There are sneaky attacks and all out blasts. It’s a wild look at the hazards of not sharing.
Great for toddlers learning about sharing, reading this aloud will have you shouting “Mine!” in all sorts of tones. Appropriate for ages 2-4.
September 11, 2018
What parent or child does not relate to a battle over what is MINE! The story is simple, with an unexpected twist at the end, but the illustrations make it hilarious.
Since the book is written using only one word, it gave my new reader a fun confidence boost to be able to read a whole book easily. It also gave him a chance to practice with punctuation. For younger kids this could be an easy-going way to introduce discussions about sharing. But lessons and learning aside this is just a laugh-out-loud funny read from start to finish.
This book has great re-readability as well. My son has already asked to read this several times, which he doesn't do as often as he used to. There is a lot to look at in the illustrations and it gives the reader a chance to ham it up and have fun with the word MINE!
Since the book is written using only one word, it gave my new reader a fun confidence boost to be able to read a whole book easily. It also gave him a chance to practice with punctuation. For younger kids this could be an easy-going way to introduce discussions about sharing. But lessons and learning aside this is just a laugh-out-loud funny read from start to finish.
This book has great re-readability as well. My son has already asked to read this several times, which he doesn't do as often as he used to. There is a lot to look at in the illustrations and it gives the reader a chance to ham it up and have fun with the word MINE!
July 12, 2018
Two mice claim a rock as "mine." Things escalate until a surprising event removes the rock from the equation.
In his signature style, Mack has once again written an entire book with just one word repeated with different punctuation and illustration clues to get the story across. This may be a really good opening for a discussion with kids who are a little too possessive or reluctant to share. Emergent readers should love that they can read this entire book all by themselves.
In his signature style, Mack has once again written an entire book with just one word repeated with different punctuation and illustration clues to get the story across. This may be a really good opening for a discussion with kids who are a little too possessive or reluctant to share. Emergent readers should love that they can read this entire book all by themselves.
May 6, 2020
There is only one word in this book, and that's the word MINE! The illustrations however, show that mine can have different nuances - from a territorial and possessive MINE to a surprised and pleased MINE. The illustrations of the two mice fighting over the rock are funny, and the kids were delighted by the ending scenes.
May 15, 2017
Just the book for friends or siblings who have a hard time sharing. The only word used is "mine" but so much is conveyed in that one word and the illustrations. The mice antics are great and I loved the surprise ending. Fun book to share with toddlers.
November 7, 2017
Very funny and a good way for kids to understand tone, etc. Probably will not use for storytime, though I could. Not sure it's the best way to show kids to share (as they would have to understand the subtext), but it's fun.
April 7, 2017
Take this to your next storytime training to show how much storytelling can be accomplished with just one word and a ton of inflection!
April 13, 2017
Jeff Mack and this book are brilliant.
July 26, 2017
Jeff Mack does it again. A whole story told with one word and pictures. Brilliant.
November 20, 2017
The use of a solitary word throughout the book conveys a complete story of two mice competing for the same rock.
March 1, 2019
Perfect for babies
June 23, 2023
Lol simple easy book 😂
This is a book you buy for a kid so they can practice “reading” and making up their own story.
One word books.
This is a book you buy for a kid so they can practice “reading” and making up their own story.
One word books.
September 7, 2023
Not a great read aloud…but for having only 1 word used throughout the pages, it’s done pretty well 😊 It’s a cute & funny story 💜
December 17, 2017
I interviewed Jeff Mack back in March and had been looking forward to the release of this book ever since he and I chatted.
Mine! is about a blue mouse and an orange mouse who are fighting over stuff (a rock, cheese, a gift-wrapped present, etc.), a wonderfully universal conflict that children can easily relate to. The mice plot against each other Tom and Jerry style, and the feud gets hilariously physical. The only word in the book is "Mine!," and it is written in orange or blue so you know which mouse is speaking.
I love nearly wordless picture books for kids who script since they will inevitably be "read" differently each time. And for a child working on sharing, this is a great social skills reinforcer.
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I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer two-part blog post about the best 2017 releases:
Mine! is about a blue mouse and an orange mouse who are fighting over stuff (a rock, cheese, a gift-wrapped present, etc.), a wonderfully universal conflict that children can easily relate to. The mice plot against each other Tom and Jerry style, and the feud gets hilariously physical. The only word in the book is "Mine!," and it is written in orange or blue so you know which mouse is speaking.
I love nearly wordless picture books for kids who script since they will inevitably be "read" differently each time. And for a child working on sharing, this is a great social skills reinforcer.
---
I review books for children from the perspective of a parent of kids with autism. The review above is part of a longer two-part blog post about the best 2017 releases:
June 27, 2018
Got this to read because of the Picture book long list. Hoped by the title it would be good to help SS with his current "Mine!" issues. It's a one-word book. Those are always fun to see the cleverness of using one word to show multiple emotions. But the story is them arguing and playing tricks. While older kids who know better about good behavior can enjoy the humor in that, my 2 year old won't quite get that. So good to save for storytime, maybe even a school read. But for home, not just yet. By the way, the ending--great!
6/27/18 Used in T theme, which meant I had the kids looking for why I picked the book. They loved the whole thing, especially the ending twist.
6/27/18 Used in T theme, which meant I had the kids looking for why I picked the book. They loved the whole thing, especially the ending twist.
April 14, 2017
Using only one word, Mack brilliantly tells the story of two mice who angle to claim the giant rock in their midst. Each uses a trick bigger than the last to get the other off the top of the rock so he can declare it is "Mine!", until finally, they both lose and it (SPOILER) walks away. Mack's simple mixed media artwork uses only strong black lines, orange and blue for the mice, and highlights using either orange, blue or yellow. Simple, yet right on! This could have been about my two daughters....
June 6, 2017
It’s hard to imagine a picture book with only one word, yet parents with more than one child will know that a complete story can be told just around the word, “mine.” Jeff Mack’s delightful book tells the story of two mice. One stands at the top of a rock planting a flag and declaring it’s his. Another mouse looks up with a frown and schemes to lure the first one down so he can say the rock is his. The two escalate tactics for replacing each other on the rock until they get a big surprise at the end. It’s a cute depiction of sibling rivalry that will surely have kids giggling.
September 28, 2017
A picture book with only one word- Mine! Jeff Mack’s highly entertaining story is a favorite with my great grandson. This is a perfect read-aloud story for young children who are learning to share. It is a clever story about sibling rivalry and will elicit many giggles from children. The pacing is spot-on. His bold and colorful illustrations are expressive and show the building tension between the two mice, one blue and the other orange, as they try to outsmart each other. This book belong in every pre-school.
April 24, 2017
I like Mack's books that utilize one word throughout paired with illustrations that jump off the page and draw you into the story. The battle antics between these two mice of who gets to claim "Mine!" of the rock will have kids laughing. A good book to use for focusing on the details of illustrations and how they tell the story, and to address selfishness/sharing.
June 27, 2017
An antagonistic conflict of trickery and possession between two mice escalates until the large stone they've been feuding over asserts its own autonomy. Hilarious and colorful in every aspect of the word, MINE is another excellent example of the narrative an author/illustrator can create with only one word.
The last spread, which spills onto the endpapers, is well-planned & -executed.
The last spread, which spills onto the endpapers, is well-planned & -executed.
March 4, 2019
This story had me chuckling all the way through. Two little mice each lay claim on an apparently large boulder. MINE! is the only word in the whole book, used in each situation. The competition gets serious as each tries to outwit the other. Funny ending followed by a final humorous scene. Great illustrations.
June 20, 2017
A cute, "one word" book (that word is used more than once!) with great illustrations! Mine? Mine! I think it would work well especially for Tiny Tots and Toddler storytimes. Also great for dialogic reading - lots to talk about in the illustrations.
June 15, 2017
Orange Mouse and Blue Mouse battle over a large rock. Who will be king of the hill? Their attempts at taking ownership of the rock increase in strategy and hilarity until the rock gets up and moves away leaving the mice with one piece of cheese.
June 21, 2017
Bright colors and bold lines highlight this funny tale of two mice. Children will enjoy the big illustrations and surprise ending. The book could be used in a classroom setting to explore how punctuation can change word meaning and tone, or to explore ideas of friendship.
June 22, 2017
Practically wordless (just uses the word 'mine') and hilarious. Maybe not everyone has fought over who gets the rock, but kids will definitely relate to the battle over who is the one to have the special thing. The twist at the end is great!
July 17, 2017
'Wordless' in the sense that there's only one word. 'Mine' is thrown around as two mice fight for dominance over a rock. The rock is not a rock...
Another book to add to my 'apologize to the turtles' collection.
Another book to add to my 'apologize to the turtles' collection.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews