Just Not the Same

Sharing begins at home, but this lesson proves especially tough for the whiny triplets in this debut picture book. Cleo, Gertrude and Mirabelle demand all things equal, fighting over who gets to sit in the front seat of the car, who gets the top bunk, and who gets the most sprinkles on her ice cream. The girls' parents let each of them have her way, but these equitable solutions bring hollow victories:``It's just not the same,'' the youngsters counter. Mama draws the line when each girl wants her own puppy; the triplets must work together to achieve a resolution. Lacoe's text presents a variation on sibling rivalry with a refreshing lightness, although some may object to the parents' continually giving in to these complaining children. Estrada's pale, crisply outlined watercolors go a long way toward poking fun at the girls' greed and obstinacy. In these pictures brimming with homey touches, their alternately frowning and shouting faces are right on. Ages 4-8. (Sept.)