The more I look at this book, the more I like it.  First of all, memories of childhood came flooding back after reading the first couple of pages about sibling rivalry.  Got that one right!  Even the facial expressions of the donkey characters reflect their competition as they each try to be first in everything they do.  After a family outing to the river for a picnic, the brother and sister, together, take a different way home, alone.  Not such good things happen to them, such as eating sour berries–there’s a lesson in itself, to falling into a creek bed.  No one got hurt, but without the parents around the competition stopped and was replaced with caring for one another.  This lasted all the way home and throughout the rest of the day.  Even their parents noticed, and as the saying goes….’the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,’ the parents started in on the ‘me first’ bickering.  This is a delightful book with many opportunities for lessons.  The colors are beautiful and the illustrations are reminiscent of Bill Peet’s earlier books.  Great binding.  Even the reverse title page had a phrase which I agree with and appreciate…Copyright fuels creativity …….You are supporting writers and allowing Penguin to continue to publish books for every reader.  This book is a highly recommended purchase for all elementary school libraries.