A nearly wordless picture book, charmingly illustrated, giving a simple message about learning to share.

Thank you #netgalley for giving me a copy of this book to review.

I love wordless picture books. This book does have words, but only 3. The reason I love books like this is because it allows the illustrations to tell the story. The cranky animals can be a bit much in this book, but the idea of teaching kids about possessions and respecting others' property is a good message. I wish there were more animals willing to share, or the main character used the word sorry. All in all a good book that I will share.

Cute little book! I loved the illustrations. Still I really was put off by the grouchiness of animals in the story. I understand kids need to learn the concepts, but so much crankiness?

Is there a current fad for children's books that don't have any content or words? I'm clearly missing the boat on what the appeal is. While the illustrations are nice enough there are literally three words in this book: mine, yours, ours. And yes it teaches children the concept of property and sharing; but three words is just not enough for me. Were this a board book for babies, maybe. But it's a children's book and for me I need a lot more content to go on. I also think all the children I know want more of a story during story time.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Little Panda bursts into Big Panda’s cave, startling him. “Ours?” he asks, to which Big Panda grumbles “Mine.” To get rid of Little Panda, Big Panda hands him a kite, telling him “Yours.”

While flying the kite, Little Panda crashes into one animal after another, and they explain in no uncertain terms what belongs to them (“Mine”) and what to Little Panda (“Yours”) But after the animals are swept up by the kite and come crashing down in a big heap with their possessions mixed together, they finally learn a new word: “Ours”

This picture book contains a total of three different words, repeated throughout the story: mine, yours and ours. But these three words, combined with the stunning watercolour illustrations, create a powerful story about being kind to others and learning to share – important lessons for young children.

A note at the back lists the animals featured in the book and explains that they’re all native to Asia. Teachers reading Mine.Yours. in class could use this as an additional starting point for a discussion about some potentially unfamiliar animals such as pangolins and golden snub-nosed monkeys.

I'm a fan of simple text picture books. Using one or two words to tell a story is a beautiful thing. When done properly the story is a basically told entirely with the illustrations. And that's what this book is aiming for. Some sequences work really well; others are a bit harder to grasp.

I wasn't a fan of Mine. Yours. I thought the older panda set a bad example for the younger panda. He was selfish, possessive, and uncaring. The little panda asked for food and was given a tiny portion compared to what the larger panda hoarded for himself. I dislike the message it sends to children, because adults (especially parental figures) are supposed to take care of them. The young panda was essentially told to go outside and play so the larger panda didn't have to deal with him.

It didn't help that the only two words used were "mine" and "yours" throughout the book. We try not to use mine at our house, and encourage our children to share what they have. My husband and I share with them, and we expect them to share with us and each other. I know that the story is trying to make a point, and eventually the word "ours" is introduced, but animals were getting upset with the little panda for things that were out of his control. His kite was flying around and bumping into people, and they acted like he'd committed some terrible crime. No one tried to help him, or offered a kind word. I understand what Mine. Yours. was trying to accomplish, but I wasn't a fan of how it was done.

Very simple read, but the key is in the picture details! It would be interesting to see students retell this story, and I could see it reaching even to slightly older elementary. I love the problems that little panda stirs up along the way and how big panda eventually comes around!

This largely wordless picture book offers lovely illustrations, and a slightly muddled story line. The small panda wanders into the large pandas cave, but of course, the large panda does not want to share and gives the small panda a kite. The small panda reeks havoc with the kite, upsetting games, fishing, boats, picnics, all met by chants of MINE! and YOURS! Presumably the picnic, game, boat, etc fall under MINE! and the kite under YOURS! but it doesn't quite make sense. Finally when all of the animals have been swept away by the kite, the large panda saves them all, and finally learns to share with a final exclamation of OURS! If the premise were more clear, or if more words were involved, it would be a much more approachable story.

To be posted Apr 2 on GoodReads:

With just the words Mine, Yours, and Ours along with illustrations, the story of a misadventure with a kite that makes several critters upset eventually resolves with a happy ending for all.

I think I’d have suggested the words Oops, Sorry, and Ok instead of Mine, Yours, and Ours. It comes off a little selfish and angsty at times as is and I don’t think it is really supposed to. (I've suggested to the publishers that this be changed but I don't know if there is time.) The target audience - who will just be thrilled that they can read a book all by themselves - though will probably not care. And I love the illustrations. I also really appreciate that all of the animals featured in the book are Asian, several that don’t often make their way into picture books. Recommended for beginning readers just able to recognize a few sight words who want the accomplishment of reading a whole book, Asian animal fans, cute artwork fans, and fans of misadventures that end well.

<i>I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.</i>

’m not sure whether I like this book or not. I'm pretty sure I don't understand it. I suspect that I am ether to old or to young for it.

Little Panda seems to be looking for a place to stay and enters into Big Panda’s den. Then grumpy Big Panda claims the den as Mine! and sets Little Panda outside with the word, Yours! This territorial squabbling continues until Big Panda gives Little Panda a kite and sends him on his way.

As Little Panda attempts to fly his kite he interrupts many different Asian animals by messing up whatever it is they are doing. He is roundly sent on his way with more assertions of Mine! and Yours!

Eventually the kite takes off with Little Panda. All the animals jump onto the string with him. I’m uncertain if they are all joining into the fun or trying to rescue him. In the end they travel back to Big Panda and all learn the word, Ours.

From other reviews I’ve read it is the perfect book for young children who, like the two pandas and other animals here, are always squabbling over things. I don’t remember those days with my own children (thank goodness) and my grandchildren haven’t reached this age yet. I’m sure those other readers are correct, but for now it makes no sense to me. I just don't get the point of this. Well I do, I think the author is trying to send a message about sharing, but I’m not sure the book accomplishes it.

My problem is in large part that I really didn’t like Big Panda. Older characters should be modelling good behaviour, not acting like jerks. How could he offer the tiniest portion of bamboo to Little Panda while hoarding a huge basket for himself? This is not how responsible adults act!

Of course I love the art. Qin Leng’s whimsical drawings always make my heart sing. I adore this one here with Little Panda and his kite. I’m not certain that this is enough for me though.

I appreciate what was trying to be conveyed here; I don't think there were enough words to do so successfully.
The illustrations are absolutely lovely!
I would have liked more detail in the writing so as to convey a more positive look at sharing.
The overuse of mine, yours and ours without any further reasoning gave this a bit of a negative feel.

Thank you NetGalley and Kids Can Press for this DRC.

The illustrations are delightful and I almost think this would have been perfect as a wordless picture book, though with just three words it is pretty close. There is room for deeper storytelling from kids, and plenty of discussion opportunities.

Three simple but meaningful words to get a message across, Mine, Yours and Ours.

Little Panda wanders inside Big Panda’s den and looks around.
Ours?
Big Panda is in no mood for company and not inclined to share what is his. He announces,
Mine.
He exits his den with Little Panda, and sits him on a rock and says,
Yours.
The following morning Little Panda shows up again and wants to share the big panda’s breakfast with him. He is told that the breakfast is not his, but Big Panda offers Little Panda a kite which he hopes will make him disappear.
Yours.
But eventually, the kite’s tail gets all tangled up in the other animal’s activities. Although the little panda wants to make things right, the wind makes it difficult.

It looks like he is in a mess over his head (pun intended). The words mine and yours are used multiple times, but will we ever hear ours again?

The animals in this book are found throughout Asia. There are giant pandas, pangolin, fishing cat, river otter, Chinese jumping mice, yellow-throated martins and golden snug-nosed monkey, etc. The names of these Asian animals are at the beginning of the book so the reader can identify them as the book is being read.

What Concerned Me: Though the concept was cute, there was nothing that made this book stand above others.

What I Liked Best: While the story has a slight edge of harshness (no doubt due to the use of only one word) at the beginning, the illustrations feel gentle and soft, perhaps meant to create a perfect balance. A book with few words can be fun for little ones to read themselves.

All in all a nice book that kids should appreciate.

My thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

There are only three words in this picture book, 'mine', 'yours' and 'ours' so the illustrations really have to work hard to tell the tale and do this beautifully well. I love all the little details in the pictures, the books on big panda's sagging bookshelves and the toadstools in other images for example. Unfortunately big panda doesn't give a very good impression of adults with his selfish behaviour but it's lovely how the community of animals comes together in the end and learns that 'ours' is a great concept too! Gentle story about sharing and friendship.

This was an adorable picture book that utilized single words on each page or spread. I do thoroughly enjoy this type of book, as it does more 'showing' instead of 'telling'. You look at the images more, and there's also more that can be extracted and interpreted from the images. I thing Arnold did a fine job with this picture book; the plot flows nicely and the images are soft and delightful.

Mine. Yours. by Marsha Diane Arnold & Qin Leng is a book of few words, letting the artwork tell most of the story. Little Panda has wandered into Big Panda's den. After trying to get Little Panda to leave, Big Panda gives him a kite. Little Panda runs off to play with the kite. In the process, he tangles up several jungle residents in the kite string.

I read this with my cubs and we all enjoyed it! The art is just gorgeous! It's a simple story with a deep lesson on both boundaries- mine vs yours- and sharing- ours. I loved that the artist included a pangolin among the critters Little Panda meets! All of the animals are appropriate to the panda habitat, and others include fishing cat, raccoon dog (tanuki), and red panda. It prompted interest in these creatures, so we researched them afterwards! Recommended for preschool/kindergarten classrooms particularly!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Kids Can Press for providing a copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

In this nearly wordless book, lovely watercolor and ink illustrations tell the story of Little Panda’s wanderings through the woods, across a bridge, and into a cave where he meets Big Panda, who grumpily points out the cave is “mine,” and puts Little Panda outside. Little Panda returns, and Big Panda gives him a small plate of food to eat and then a kite to play with. “Yours,” he tells Little Panda. Playing with the kite, Little Panda engages is many crazy adventures of “mine” and “yours” with the other animals. A very playful read!

The illustrations in this book are absolutely beautiful. All of the animals are from Asia so it can be used to extend the children's knowledge of more animals.

A lovely book about sharing, learning that it doesn't have to be just mine or yours, some things can be ours.There are not many words in the story so it completely relies on the pictures to tell the story which is lovely.

I would use this book with children aged 1-5 years.

Having young grandchildren, “Mine” is a word I hear a lot. This beautifully illustrated book uses only three words to get a message across, Mine, Yours and Ours. When Little Panda encroaches on Big Panda’s home and food, he very directly points out mine and yours to him. While playing with his new kite, Little Panda has issues controlling it and is told over and over “Mine” as he gets too close and disrupts others. As all the animals get tied up in the string, Big Panda rescues them and they realize that “Ours” will solve the many problems and make them happy together. While it is a nice book, I had to have a discussion and explain to my grandson what was happening before he understood, my granddaughter didn’t understand at all. All the animals are from Asia (I like when a book sticks to a continent with it’s characters) and they tell the name of each one at the end of the book. A nice way to further an investigation into the animals. I enjoyed this very simple 3 word book. The publisher generously provided a copy of this book upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.