Shared Space

Mouse loves having the yard next to his tree stump apartment to himself—“There was never a stick in the way. Or a shrub out of shape.” But when neighbor Pak-Rat moves in, the newcomer, true to his name, brings a heap of belongings. In a series of paneled, thin-outlined cartoons, Frost (the Wombats series) shows how the stump’s expansive, carefully cultivated green lawn becomes filled with gnomes, flamingoes, pinwheels, wind chimes, a mini-golf course, and a bright yellow inflatable tube figure. Instead of negotiating with Pak-Rat, Mouse does his best to be polite before turning desperate, burying all the junk in the dead of night. When discovered, Mouse screams “THIS STUFF IS TOO MUCH!” and falls supine on the once-beloved lawn. But Pak-Rat is largely calm, caring, and cooperative, which leads Mouse to a three-part epiphany: “One: Having a neighbor meant sharing the yard. Two: It was still going to be a problem sometimes. Three: It also meant having someone to do stuff with. Which was a very wonderful thing.” Aligning with others may not always be easy, but Frost’s terrific comic timing and lovably offbeat characters hint that resulting friendships can be worth it—waving inflatable tube and all. Ages 4–8. Agent: Andrea Morrison, Writers House. (Apr.)