Again, as with so much by Yolen, much of the charm is in the illustrations, so let's give [a:Chris Sheban|443700|Chris Sheban|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] credit. And I'm not sure this is necessary, given the several older books on the topic and the new-enough [b:Not a Box|220596|Not a Box|Antoinette Portis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581379689l/220596._SX50_.jpg|213602] by [a:Antoinette Portis|129061|Antoinette Portis|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1351654843p2/129061.jpg], author of [b:Not a Stick|2079076|Not a Stick|Antoinette Portis|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347930466l/2079076._SX50_.jpg|2084348]. But it is a charming book and families should consider checking it out from the library.

There is still the problem though of where to get such lovely big boxes. I never had one when I was a child and craved my own 'palace' or at least 'nook.' ( )

Great inspiration for play. Especially useful to have a large box (or a few) to play with afterwards! ( )

This book is about a box. The story is told about all the things a box can be/ be used for; a library, a nook, a palace, a place for your imagination to run free. I like this book because it shows kids that we can do so many things with a box, that we might not have seen at first. I would use this paired with part of the Kade’s Carnival videos to teach kids about upcycling/ recycling. Kids can learn that the sky is the limit and that we can be creative with things in so many different ways. Then I would give them all a box and some supplies and ask them to create something with their box and we would look at what different things everyone decided to create. ( )

I don’t know what is better, the story, or the illustrations. Both are fun, magical, and full of imagination. The artist does do well with incorporating his soft style of art with a compleastly real looking box. The boxes even contain lifelike shipping and sorting labels. The story is a sweet rhyme about all the things a box can be in the hands of imaginative children. A time of a simple love of the creative that is contained within these pages works perfectly for any reader.
#IllinoisReads2019 ( )

Picked this book up for my nephew that likes boxes. It's a board book that opens in various directions and can ultimately shape a box. I'm still unsure just what order to read the "pages" in, but it doesn't seem to do much harm to the narrative about what fun things you can do with a box. The pages and illustrations are decorated with standard box shipping labels and writing so the boards themselves also resemble the sides of a box. ( )

This book is a great way to introduce students to poetry. This book discusses all the things that imagination can help you with, and all the possibilities that it brings, even with just a box. I would love to bring this book out on a day that my students can't go outside because it is raining, ( )

This book is written in poetic format. The cover of the book is detailed with packing tape, a wrip int he corner of the cardboard, and a postage stamp. The book illustrates the beauty of a child's imagination and the things they imagine a simple box can be.

The children get a cardboard box. Their imaginations run wild as they use the box as a castle, a quiet reading spot, race cars, and much more! ( )

In this day and age, electronic entertainment is so prevalent, even for the very young. Ms. Yolen reminds us that a simple box can still engage the imagination of a child if left alone...with a box and his/her imagination.

The idea is almost like new...as if it were just thought of for the first time. Yet, it is the way children once played with their natural surroundings, the great finds around the yard, or park, or street, or neighborhood. Here we go...all over again.

And Chris Sheban's artwork drew me right into the fun. The two children and their dog find many ways to use a simple box, a large moving box. The artwork is filled with texture and is described as "cardboard-esque" for it resembles the box which the children play in and over and under and around.

It is really cute and a fun read. Maybe even an inspiration for some in this day!

Reading Level: Grades 1 - 3 (ages 6-8)

Author

Jane Yolen has been called "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" and "the Aesop" of the twentieth century as she has written over 300 books, contributing tremendously to children's literature, especially to the fairy tales genre. She is also a poet, a teacher of writing and literature, and a reviewer of children’s literature.

Owl Moon, Winner of the 1988 Caldecott MedalJane Yolen’s Owl Moon won the Caldecott Medal, while other stories have won two Nebula Awards, two Christopher Medals, the World Fantasy Award, three Mythopoeic Fantasy Awards, the Golden Kite Award, the Jewish Book Award, the World Fantasy Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and the Association of Jewish Libraries Award among many others. She has also been awarded six honorary doctorates in literature. She lives in Massachusetts and Scotland. You can find Ms. Yolen @ http://janeyolen.com where she shares far more than her books. There are great resources for teachers, parents, and librarians. She has a blog there too.
Illustrator

Chris Sheban illustrates children's books, including A Night on the Range, The Shoe Tree of Chagrin, and Red Fox at McCloskey's Farm. His work has been honored with three gold and three silver medals from the Society of Illustrators.

He grew up in Ohio, attending Kent State University in 1976. After two additional years of graduate work, he moved to Perugia, Italy where he worked for a year as a graphic designer and part-time illustrator. Then he returned to the United States and currently lives in Chicago.

Mr. Sheban's artwork has appeared in PRINT magazine, Step-by-Step Graphics, and numerous Communication Arts Illustration Annuals. He’s been awarded three Gold and three Silver medals from the Society of Illustrators in New York.

Mr. Sheban can be found @ http://www.chrissheban.com where you can see his fine artwork for the books he has illustrated as well as ads and other types of artwork he has done. ( )

Great new 'box' book!! ( )

Hearken back to childhood days when a large box became the joy for many hours as neighborhood kids slid down a long summer hill. If I close my eyes, I can hear the laughter. Dizzy from tumbling down, down and round, round, round still, we took turns walking back up the hill and climbing in the cardboard home.

The author captures these moments, are more. This book is hot of the press and recently published. The illustrations are incredible! ( )

Chris Sheban

SLJ puts the age range at PreS-grade 1 ( )