May 22, 2023
This rhyming fable by married team Fleming and Rohmann (Oh, No!) begins with a single, shiny red apple hanging from a tree, ready to fall. Spotting it amid the leaves, several animals each decide—seemingly unbeknownst to others—that it will be “Mine!” Every development occurs with satisfying predictability as the animals’ approaches are each described with an appropriate verb (“Along skittered Mouse”), and a following quatrain (“ ‘An apple,’ squeaked she./ ‘Mmm-mmm, how divine./ When it tumbles to the ground,/ it’ll all be mine!’ ”). And creatively concocted action verbs follow Mouse, Rabbit, Fox, Deer, and Bear as they await the coming feast (Bear “stompety-flopped/ behind a pile of rocks to wait”). The apple falls, as anticipated, but things don’t work out the way the animals expect. In striking stained-paper and relief-printed art that draws and holds viewers’ attention, bold black outlines, blue skies, varying perspectives, and the animals’ expressive faces create a story that’s easy to follow, making the surprise ending all the funnier in this reminder not to count one’s apples before they fall—and to share generously when they do. Ages 3–7. Agent (for author and illustrator): Ethan Ellenberg, Ethan Ellenberg Agency.
June 15, 2023
Prepare to savor this title's original yet familiar feel. This rhythmic read features a slew of greedy animals, all with their eyes on a prize. A single red apple hangs at the "tip-tippy top" of a tree, poised to fall at any moment. Its precarious position isn't missed by the hungry animals below, each determined to make the fruit their own. One by one, a different animal expresses their covetous desires in rhyme ("Mmm-mmm, how divine. / When it tumbles to the ground, / it'll be all mine"). This is followed immediately by different descriptions of how each animal hides. Mouse "zippety-eeked" beneath a leaf to wait, while Hare "hoppety-boinged," and fox "waggety-dashed." Such delicious descriptions make this an ideal read-aloud for large groups, while Rohmann's art plays up the crew's wild apple-eating fantasies with a colorful combination of stained paper and relief printmaking. For all this, it's quite satisfying when the fallen fruit finally ends up in the paws of an opossum, willing to share with a worthy worm. This one has all the trappings of a storytime classic--don't be surprised when young readers eschew its central message and declare this book itself to be unshareable and definitely "mine!" (This book was reviewed digitally.) Crisp and tart by turns, this is one book worth fighting over. (Picture book. 3-5)
COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from July 1, 2023
Preschool-Grade 2 *Starred Review* In this delectable picture-book romp, a shiny red apple hanging at the "tip-tippy top" of a tree piques the interest of several animals. As each hungry critter spies the juicy prize, jaunty rhymes capture their covetous musings: "Along lumbered Bear. 'Nummy nums, ' growled he. 'See that hanging there? My snack, my bite, my morsel. No way I'm gonna share.'" Unaware of any competition, each quickly takes cover in ways described through witty onomatopoeic wordplay. Mouse "zippety-eeked," Hare "hoppety-boinged," Fox "waggety-dashed," Deer "trippety-skipped," and Bear "stompety-flopped." While the desirous animals lie in wait, they dream about the delicious moment their dinner is finally served. Caldecott Medalist Rohmann's distinctive, stunning relief prints with bold black lines and a rich, earthy color palette relay the individual thought-bubble fantasies, all emphatically declaring, "MINE!" Amid superb pacing throughout, a standout split-panel illustration follows the animals' still-frame, slow-motion glee as a sudden gust of wind sends the apple of everyone's eye falling "Down . . . Down . . . Down . . . DOWN!" The melee that ensues offers a surprise ending for the greedy guts, and ""finders eaters"" for those who like to share. Full of energy and fun, Mine! is an extremely fruitful pick for storytime.
COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Starred review from July 1, 2023
"In a tall, tall tree, / at the tip-tippy top, / hung a single red apple, / just about to drop." Crisp, bright illustrations with smooth black outlines, created on stained paper with relief printmaking (and recalling the style of Rohmann's Caldecott winner My Friend Rabbit), feature a shiny red apple that stands out against green leaves and blue sky. Mouse spots the apple, which, from her position on the ground, looks precarious up high in the tree. "Mine!" she declares and waits for it to fall. Next comes Hare, then Fox, Deer, and Bear, and one by one each lays claim to the irresistible fruit. The final visitor to the tree is the wind, and the apple falls at last. The chanting rhythm of the text bounces toward an inevitable conflict; dramatic visual perspective shifts heighten the tension. Smart compositions using panels to slow time show the animals watching the apple's descent before they dart off the page after it in a chorus of "Mine!" The ensuing animal brawl is featured on two wordless double-page spreads; story-hour audiences will easily see the apple rolling away from the hubbub and toward the page-turn. Finally, one last animal asks, "Mine?" The clever plot twist is a just-right ending to this spirited, visually pleasing read-aloud. Julie Roach
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
November 1, 2023
K-Gr 3-Alone in a tall tree, a ripe red apple gently sways, taunting the forest animals scurrying below. Mouse is the first to spy the juicy fruit, and she imagines enjoying it all on her own. Cunningly, Mouse hides under a leaf, waiting for the moment to scamper out for her sweet treat. Meanwhile, along comes Hare, who also fancies the shiny apple. He hides in the tall grass, ready to pounce. However, Mouse and Hare are not alone in their desires, for Fox, Deer, and Bear are all ready for the apple to be theirs. A gust of wind blows and finally snaps the apple from the tree. As it falls, the forest animals all at once think "Mine!" and dash to make their claim. The jumble of wrestling animals kicks up a dusty cloud of chaos, out from which the beloved fruit gently rolls unscathed. Young readers will eagerly wait to see which animal wins the apple, and will be served a surprise ending with a sweet and simple message of sharing. Fleming's cumulative, rhyming story offers a pleasantly predictable plot, presenting potential for becoming a read-aloud favorite. Rohmann's vibrant illustrations created through relief printmaking are boldly colored and outlined in thick, black lines. This dynamic duo's storytelling presentation is reminiscent of their previous book, Oh, No! VERDICT Take a bite of this sweet story to stave off the gimmes.-Emily Brush
Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
July 1, 2023
"In a tall, tall tree, / at the tip-tippy top, / hung a single red apple, / just about to drop." Crisp, bright illustrations with smooth black outlines, created on stained paper with relief printmaking (and recalling the style of Rohmann's Caldecott winner My Friend Rabbit), feature a shiny red apple that stands out against green leaves and blue sky. Mouse spots the apple, which, from her position on the ground, looks precarious up high in the tree. "Mine!" she declares and waits for it to fall. Next comes Hare, then Fox, Deer, and Bear, and one by one each lays claim to the irresistible fruit. The final visitor to the tree is the wind, and the apple falls at last. The chanting rhythm of the text bounces toward an inevitable conflict; dramatic visual perspective shifts heighten the tension. Smart compositions using panels to slow time show the animals watching the apple's descent before they dart off the page after it in a chorus of "Mine!" The ensuing animal brawl is featured on two wordless double-page spreads; story-hour audiences will easily see the apple rolling away from the hubbub and toward the page-turn. Finally, one last animal asks, "Mine?" The clever plot tist is a just-right ending to this spirited, visually pleasing read-aloud.
(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)