Nap and Winkle are digging in the yard where they find a bone; Nap says the bone is his because he saw it first but Winkle says the bone is his because he touched it first. The dogs cannot decide which one is right, so they ask a farmer, a goat, an apprentice barber, and a big dog. The farmer, the goat, and the barber all say, “Who cares about a bone?” and the dogs don’t get an answer.

But when they ask the big dog, he asks to see the bone.

What will happen when Nap and Winkle take the big dog to see the bone? And what will Nap and Winkle do?

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The target audience for this picture book is the primary grade reader, ages four through seven, kindergarten through second grade. The story is, for the most part, positive. But the ultimate solution in which the two dogs team up for a violent confrontation with the other dog may not be the right message for young readers as the best example of problem-solving.

The story creates a learning opportunity for young readers to discuss ways to solve problems without resorting to violence. And, in the case of the farmer, the goat, and the barber, why these people did not help the dogs solve their problem. Helping others solve a problem is another way to support teamwork.

However, the Caldecott Medal-winning pictures make this book extraordinary. Using only red, yellow, black, and white and often drawing against a single color background, the distinctive illustrations superbly support the narrative.

Recommended. ( )

Teaches the importance of sharing and not fighting. ( )

This was a super cute story about teamwork. At first the dogs are arguing over whose bone it is, and as they try to settle the dispute, they are tricked into completing chores together for other people. They’re still arguing about whose bone it is when a big dog comes along and steals it. They again have to work together to fight the big dog and get the bone back. In the end they agree to share it. The illustrations were so colorful and popped out of the book just about. It was such a cute book and one I will be purchasing. ( )

"Finders Keepers" is about two dogs, Nap and Winkle who are arguing about who is the owner of the bone and which one of them will be the one to keep the bone. A bigger dog comes along and attempts to steal the bone. They team up and take back the bone. In the end, the dogs decide to share. This book shows a little violence but it also shows children that sharing and teamwork solve your problems. ( )

"Finders Keepers" is about two dogs who cannot decide on a problem they are having. They ask everyone they encounter about their problem and every person somehow gets what they want out of the dogs, but the dogs do not get the answer to their question. Nap and Winkle are arguing about who's bone it is and who gets to keep it. Well at the end of the book, they encounter a large dog who tries to steal the bone. The dogs then attacked the large dog and worked together to retrieve their bone. Nap and Winkle worked together at the end and decided to share the bone and be on their own. I enjoyed this book until the very end when it got extremely violent and I would have liked it a lot more without the violence. All in all, I think it would be more appropriate for older grades. ( )