[Mine's the Best (My First I Can Read - Level Pre1 (Quality))] [Author: Bonsall, Crosby Newell] [August, 1997]

by Crosby Newell Bonsall

Two boys. Two balloons. Each boy thinks his balloon is best. What do you think?Author Crosby Bonsall's many beloved I Can Read Books include The Day I Had to Play with My Sister; And I Mean It, Stanley; The Case of the Hungry Stranger; and the My First I Can Read Book Mine's the Best.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Crosby Barbara Newell Bonsall, b. Jan. 2, 1921; d. Jan. 10, 1995 was an American artist and children's book author and illustrator. She wrote and illustrated more than 40 children's books.

Bonsall began writing and illustrating for juvenile readers after working for advertising firms.

Born Crosby Barbara Newell, she married George Bonsall.

Works were published as Crosby Newell, Crosby Bonsall, and Crosby Newell Bonsall.

Reviews

[Josiah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Like Arnold Lobel, Syd Hoff, Else Holmelund Minarik, Lillian Hoban, Peggy Parish, Shirley Mozelle, and Doug Cushman (among others), Crosby Bonsall is a well-loved name in easy-reader circles. Her books for the youngest independent readers run the gamut from simple mysteries to low-key social commentary to purely fun training stories, and that variety makes her work perfect for kids learning to read. Mine's the Best, first published in 1973, features pertinent social observations and is a good reading primer, with more and more wisdom to offer as a child grows in understanding. That's a trait nearly all the best easy readers share.

Two young boys promenading separately on the beach, each carrying an inflated toy serpent they're proud of, are bound to have words when they meet. One serpent green, the other red, but otherwise identical. The boys try to point out the superiority of their own toy, but there's nothing to prove either as better. They continue arguing as beachgoers meander by, some with small children carrying toy serpents exactly like those held by the boys. The two verbal combatants stretch and twist their serpents out of shape as they argue, sitting on them and using them in ways not intended by the manufacturer, until the unhappy plastic playthings have had enough, and break. The inflatable serpents they took such pride in look pretty pathetic now. Why were these shriveled piles of plastic worth quarreling over?

Our two protagonists are like many of us who passionately debate intricate points of logic. We feel a powerful need to defend our point of view, but in doing so we sometimes contort and distort our position, doing irreparable harm until there's nothing appealing about it anymore. We're so quick to defend our own that we refuse to see there's not so much difference between our philosophy and that of the next guy, and if we can resist the instinct to attack each other, functional unity isn't impossible. The two boys in Mine's the Best also reflect our response oftentimes after our proud arguments are deflated, to then band together with our erstwhile opponent against others who are more different still. But boys will be boys and people will be people, with all our faults and foibles. As long as we learn something from our mistakes, we're headed in the right direction.

Crosby Bonsall expresses herself thoughtfully in few words, only one hundred five total in Mine's the Best. Whether you want a story that gets you thinking or are only looking for amusement, this book has you covered, and I'd give it two and a half stars. A toast to you, Crosby Bonsall, and your gift for storytelling. Good writing never goes out of style.

[Gabriel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully simply book that illustrates the sad reality of harmful competition quite well. The two boys in the story argue over which of their perfectly identical floaties is superior. Whenever my students are reading the Gospel of Mark, we detour and read this story (the sophomores love it!). In Mark, the disciples could be called the "duh-ciples," they aren't bright, and they completely miss what Jesus is teaching. At one point, in chapter 9, right after Jesus predicts his suffering and death, they get into an argument about who is the greatest. "I'm best disciple!" "No, I'm the best disciple!" I think this book illustrates exactly what Mark was going for back then.

[Siskiyou-Suzy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like Crosby Bonsall a lot but these little kids are jerks. I think that's the lesson, in part, because they're missing so much just trying to one-up each other. Yet . . . there are no real repercussions, and they only become friends after finding a common enemy. Meanwhile, a child nearly drowns in the background.

[Irene Fontana · Rating 1 out of 5]

For a beginner child to read words such as (yours is dead), (it's your fault),and (I hate her) is teaching negativity. I would not recommend this book for anyone. These words are to impressionable for young minds.

[Edward Sojuwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mine's the Best is Crosby Bonsall's good natured attempt to shed light on the silliness of arrogance and the humility that soon must follow, although it does pick on girls somehow, but Bonsall probably doesn't know. He's a good soul who seeks to entertain, kinda like a white version of the Fat Albert show, where if you're not careful you could learn something before it's done. Two boys argue on a wooden pier bridge out by the beach as to which one has the best balloon. Both kids have balloons shaped into cute moray eel creatures with spots along the back. The two boys are not even seeing that a lot of other kids have the exact same balloons just as worthy of attention as the ones they have. The fuss gets to a point where the two damage each other's balloons till both run out of helium. Then one little girl with one moray eel balloon triumphantly sticks her tongue out at them. The reply: "We hate her. We both had better balloons." Kinda sad to leave a book ending like that, but the intent is good if you see it with good eyes. And a good heart.
Three stars
The Best is Always Yours!

[Amy Lafleur Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard one of my bosses recommend this to patron as interesting easy reader and one of her favorites. I decided to read it myself. In the story, two boys are arguing over who has the best toy. In few simple words and descriptive illustrations, this book reinforces a few phrases for early readers and it is funny.

[Amanda Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two boys are arguing over who has the best toy on the beach. The both have the same toy, just different colors. Very simple story that I have in my school library. I won't discard just yet, but if it was lost I wouldn't replace.

[Yes · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book is also simple yet it tells us that enemies can be friends too! Fun and ordinary.

[Jane · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was really boring to read this book. It was too easy for me. It might be good for toddlers.

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

enjoyed the illustrations, the story isn't that great

[grllopez ~ with freedom and books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this as a kid, dozens of times, and to my own kids when they were young. And they have read it over and over. It's just a picture book.

[Rachel]

My five year old thinks this book is hilarious. He is a beginning reader, and books that tickle him definitely make reading time easier and more fun for both of us. He loves quoting, "Yours is sick... yours is dead."

[Katie Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crosby Bonsall's writing is just delightful. I thought she was a man until I read this book, which she most definitely was not. This story about two boys with balloons trying to one-up each other is not my favorite of hers - The Case of the Hungry Stranger will always hold that position - but there is something charming about it. I am finding myself drawn to a lot of older books recently. It’s fascinating to me how children’s books have changed and not changed over time. I’d be really curious to know what kids think of this one, but haven’t had the chance to share it with any just yet.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of our older titles, this story still stands up. It tells the story of two boys fighting over whose balloon is best. Of course, during the fighting they both manage to kill the balloons and end up being united in deriding a girl with a similar balloon. It is simple and provides a lot of repetition, without abandoning a story that will interest kids.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I get what this book was trying to say, however, it just fell flat, in my opinion. It didn't go anywhere. There really should have been a takeaway or some greater wisdom lesson that readers could walk away with. As it was, the only thing that could be seen was negative attitudes, discouraging communications, and friendship based on folly.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a cute story, perfect for beginning readers. The narrative is simple and repetitive, and the illustrations are hilarious; the boys keep arguing completely oblivious to what's going on around them.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very funny I Can Read Book in which two boys argue over who has the best snake balloon, each destroying his balloon in the process. When a nerdy girl walks by with an intact balloon, the boys make nice and agree that their balloons were both better than hers. A great boy book.

[Christi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Really simple story with understandable pictures and very easy to read text. Also a story that kids would likely understand. But it's not really in the least bit clever or engaging.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

They don't get along and then they become friends because they have not liking someone else in common. Realism, but not the highest level of friendship, really the lowest level. I know the book is for kids, but I don't really like it.

[babyhippoface · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not Crosby Bonsall's stories I love so much as the illustrations. Except for the "mysteries". I thought those were cool when I was a kid.

[Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

That mines the best.

[Htmacauley · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the pages!!!!

[Jaime Taggart · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible story, no moral, I was not proud to read this to my kids.

[Megan B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for emerging readers

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute, but not my favorite Crosby Bonsall book!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty funny, especially considering that the writer used less than 50 words.

[Dotty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took turns reading pages. Fun!

[Bella Cassese · Rating 4 out of 5]

funny

[Jeremy · Rating 2 out of 5]

After fighting over something trivial, two boys band together after a smug girl insults them.

[Bridget]

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