Its Mine! by Leo Lionni

This classic picture book from beloved children's author Leo Lionni offers a gentle yet powerful lesson about sharing and cooperation for preschoolers. Three young frogs constantly argue over their island home, shouting "It's mine!" about everything until a storm forces them to work together for safety. The simple, engaging storyline about friendship conflicts and resolution provides excellent conversation starters for parents and teachers. Lionni's distinctive collage illustrations create a vibrant visual world that captures young children's attention while reinforcing the narrative.

What makes this friendship story particularly effective is how Lionni uses animal characters to mirror common preschool struggles without being preachy. The transformation from selfishness to teamwork unfolds naturally through the frogs' experience with the storm and guidance from the wise toad. This subtle approach to social-emotional learning helps children understand sharing concepts through storytelling rather than direct instruction. Young readers will recognize their own squabbles in the frogs' behavior while absorbing the valuable message that cooperation makes everything better.