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Sharing: An Interactive Book about Friendship for the Youngest Readers

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A perfect sharing book for your toddler — with clever cut outs showing how two friends can be happy enjoying things they want together.

★ A Kirkus Best Book of 2020
★ An ABC Best Books for Young Readers selection
★ "Sharing is caring, and this small gem of a board book is a delight to share with little listeners.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

When two rabbits want the same carrot, how can they decide who gets it? When two monkeys want the same banana, what are they to do? The answer becomes clear when you turn the die-cut pages to find the answers underneath in this clever concept book from a board book master. This adorable and interactive book is the perfect way for young children to learn the importance of sharing--both the things they crave and the time of others.

“Many of us struggle all our lives with this concept. The brilliant Yusuke Yonezu, master board book creator, shows toddlers (and grownups) how it's done.” —Maria Russo, Editorial Director, mineditionUS

20 pages, Board Book

Published September 29, 2020

2 people are currently reading
27 people want to read

About the author

Yusuke Yonezu

28 books17 followers

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Profile Image for Richie Partington.
1,210 reviews136 followers
December 6, 2020
Richie’s Picks: SHARING by Yusuke Yonezu, minedition, September 2020, 20p., ISBN: 978-1-6626-5000-0

“It’s mine but you can have some
With you I’d like to share it
‘Cause if I share it with you
You’ll have some too”
-- Raffi, “The Sharing Song” (1976)

“The power to possess is a natural part of a child’s growing awareness. During the second and third years, as the child goes from oneness to separateness, this little person works to establish an identity separate from mother. ‘I do it myself!’ and ‘mine!’ scream the headlines in the toddler tabloid. In fact, ‘mine!’ is one of the earliest words to come out of a toddler’s mouth...
A child gives as he is given to. We have observed that children who received attachment parenting during the first two years are more likely to become sharing children in the years to come, for two reasons. Children who have been on the receiving end of generosity follow the model they’ve been given and become generous persons themselves. Also, a child who feels right is more likely to share. An attachment-parented child is more likely to have a secure self-image. He needs fewer things to validate his self-worth.”
-- from askDrSears.com, “11 Ways to Teach Your Child to Share”

“We both want this cheese!
Let’s each have a piece.
We both want this carrot!
Let’s each take half.
We both want this banana!
Let’s split it instead.”

(Get it? Banana...split?)

SHARING is a wonderful die-cut board book filled with bold, colorful images. It features pairs of kitties, little mice, bunnies, baby monkeys, piglets, and bear cubs figuring out that they can turn their frowns upside-down by sharing the species-appropriate foods they each want. The die-cuts are used to first show the food object over which the young pair is grappling. Then, turning the page, we see each with a share of the goodies. The book concludes with a pair of young human siblings fighting over their mother’s hand, and then finding a way to share:

“We both want Mommy!
Now we can all share a hug.”

From being a sibling, to interacting in preschool, to friendships, to being a kind neighbor and a good citizen, sharing is a big part of the deal. SHARING shows how sharing makes for smiles and satisfying experiences for everyone.

Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
Profile Image for Caterpillar2Butterfly.
4 reviews
December 17, 2020
J'ai reperé ce petit album en flânant dans une librairie (alors qu'en y entrant, je m'étais promise de ne rien prendre pour les petits car je venais tout juste de commander plusieurs albums en ligne). Le visuel de sa couverture et son titre m'ont attirée. Avant même de l'ouvrir, en tant que maman de jumeaux, je me suis fait la réflexion: "Il nous le faut... c'est une question de survie!" Et je n'ai pas été déçue par son contenu. Le message "on partage" est véhiculé avec simplicité, clarté et candeur.

Le partage est une notion difficile à appréhender pour les enfants; même à 5-6 ans, certains auront encore besoin d'aide pour accepter le partage. Avant 2 ans, un tout petit considère donc que tout ce qui est à sa portée lui appartient. Il faut d’abord qu’il prenne conscience de qui il est pour pouvoir faire la différence entre ce qui est à lui et ce qui est aux autres (vers 2 ans). Puis, peu à peu il apprendra à attendre son tour, à prêter, à échanger (donner et recevoir), à avoir de l'empathie (pour l'autre enfant), etc. (source: naîtreetgrandir https://naitreetgrandir.com/fr/etape/...)

Ici, on se focalise sur le sens étymologique de partager, soit diviser... par 2. L'histoire est ainsi declinée: etc.

J'ai donc proposé l'album à mes jumeaux (15 mois): l'effet de répétition a bien fonctionné pour les petits, les animaux et les aliments représentés leur sont suffisamment familiers de sorte qu'il est assez facile d'enrichir la narration avec des bruitages animaliers et des gestuelles (ex. poisson, couper, etc.). Bref, ils ont accroché. Je n'ai pas regretté cet achat impulsif CQFD. Et il me tarde de les voir évoluer avec cette histoire de partage! A suivre!
151 reviews3 followers
December 4, 2020
This is another wonderful board book created by Japanese author/illustrator Yusuke Yonezu. Some of his other special books include Why Cry, Time for Bed Nori, and the Guess What? books. In this little story, the reader can see how animals learn to share when there is only one of something. Two little cats want some fish, but there is only one--so they split it in half. This continues with mice sharing cheese, rabbits splitting a carrot, and bears dividing a bunch of grapes. It is a great lesson in sharing, but also sharing equally. For example, a triangular piece of cheese is divided lengthwise through the center, so each mouse has a similar piece of cheese. The two bears each take three grapes from a bunch of six grapes. This is a great way to show young children that sharing is important, but so is sharing equally.

The illustrations provided by Yusuke Yonezu are delightful--colorful and expressive and will definitely appeal to young children. The pages are very sturdy with die-cut images showing the complete item before it is divided.
Profile Image for Sandy Brehl.
Author 8 books134 followers
November 3, 2020
There is plenty to enjoy about this interactive, brightly illustrated board book. The title launches the concept of sharing, but (without labeling) each turn reveals underlying concepts of friendship, fairness, fun, emotions, and even math concepts. Each page turn reveals sharing the "wanted" item through die-cut portions of the object to be shared, strategically placed on the next page. Language plays an equally colorful role, incorporating a variety of words related to math: half, both, fair, split (as in banana spilt!), and gently conveying the message that the shared path is the better path.
The heavy black lines suggest lots of texture and contribute to the emotional journeys of each pair of appealing critters.
Anticipate lots of engagement from the youngest right through toddler/preschool age. Chiming in and predicting are added benefits to this seemingly simple little board book.
Profile Image for ⋆。˚꒰ঌ worm ໒꒱˚。⋆.
426 reviews1 follower
October 29, 2025
Really cute in concept but not so much in execution.

The illustrations are adorable and the messaging in this book is good- you can share with a friend. But the solution was to always split the item- like food and that mom can hug both her kids at the same time; but that is not a solution that will work in every instance, so I do wish that there were some examples of sharing items/things than cannot be split.
Profile Image for Jvermeersch.
1,477 reviews25 followers
April 6, 2022
Dit was hilarisch: ik had dit boek meegebracht van de bibliotheek voor mijn kleuter van bijna 3 jaar, en ze had het blijkbaar al op school gelezen want begon het bij bedtijd ineens zelf zeer expressief voor te lezen aan mij. *Boze toon* "Dat is van mij! Nee van mij!" *Blij* Allebei een stukjeeeuuh..."
Duidelijk zeer herkenbaar.
En leuk vormgegeven met de uitsnijdingen.
Profile Image for Tayler K.
1,008 reviews46 followers
October 26, 2020
I had to read this because of the cute cats on the front.

Different animals decide to share their favorite treats throughout the book. Cutouts are a fun way to change the shapes and sizes of the treats.

I appreciated the small banana split joke with the monkeys.
Profile Image for Emily.
1,707 reviews13 followers
February 11, 2021
Cutout board pages show animals sharing the things they both want - fish, carrots, bananas, and eventually, mama. The illustrations are precious.
48 reviews
July 14, 2022
I read this book for my little sister, with my little sister.

She is liked , she is learning to read . She learnt the word "Let's ".

I like my little sister.
2 reviews
January 1, 2023
Super simple, but helped our kids understand sharing and how it can make both people happy. Fantastic idea with the illustration! We love it.
Profile Image for Alana.
1,957 reviews50 followers
April 26, 2023
Sharing food by splitting it is all well and good, and everybody gets a mommy hug, but doesn't address when both want the same toy at the same time.
Profile Image for Emily.
Author 1 book2 followers
December 31, 2024
4.5 stars. Very clever format, and a great message. Of course, not everything that two…people want can be split in half! But the last page does attempt that point.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews

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