SHARING

A young mouse learns to share his beloved possessions with others.

Charles’ parents think it’s time he socialized with other children, so he and his mother head to the park, where kids approach him and the tempting pile of toys he’s brought from home. Nigel is curious about Charles’ xylophone; Charles is delighted to share it with him. And, of course, Monica can drive his fire engine! Charles agreeably hands over each of his treasures, even when his astronaut toy becomes marooned in a tree and another child uses up the contents of his doctor kit. (Observant readers will notice that Charles’ smile falters, but his demeanor otherwise remains calm and unaffected.) When Charles’ mother wonders where all his belongings have gone, he replies, “I shared them with my friends. And friends are better than things,” concluding the narrative with a heavy-handed moral. Charles seems either too meek to protest his toys being mishandled or implausibly mature for his age, never bristling at the prospect of sharing with strangers. Young children and their grown-ups know all too well that this isn’t a realistic portrayal of playground sharing, and without any of the story’s challenges faced head-on, the tidy message rings hollow. Wells’ signature warm, anthropomorphic illustration style is as appealing as ever, portraying Charles and friends as cheerful gray mice.

A sweet but unconvincing tale of cooperation.