I am obsessed with children’s books—particularly picture books. Before he was born, my first son had more books to his name than the average newborn. I’m always on the lookout for a new book to add to my children’s collection. So, I figured I’d start by supporting our members, which is how I found Grace and Box by Kim Howard.
The Story
The story begins with a refrigerator delivery, which is how Grace befriends Box. Grace’s big imagination assigns Box lots of different roles for their adventures together. One day, he’s a rocket. Then, he’s a tent for camping and even a submarine!
But after days of playing pretend, Grace notices Box doesn’t look so good… Plucky Grace is not about to let her friend go down without a fight. Band-Aids, soup, a little rest, and a little bit more tape give Box the refresher he needs for more adventures.
Grace and Box is fun, imaginative, and relatable.
I’m a sucker for rhyming books, and Kim Howard’s clever rhymes gave the story a fun and childlike rhythm. Megan Lötte’s beautiful, bold illustrations enhance Kim’s perfect wording.
I’m eternally jealous of children’s book authors because they have a childlike creativity that I lack. Kim is no exception. She really dove into the mind of a child to come up with all the things an ordinary box could be. My son’s favorite part was when Box was a sinking ship and Grace was a pirate.
Additionally, the layout of the book enables parents and children to have conversations while they read together. I kept finding myself asking my four-year-old what he thought Box would be next before we turned the page. He had a thing with a box for a while. So, we talked about how he used his own box to play pretend and use his imagination just like Grace.
As an adult reading this story, I was brought back to my own childhood and all the fun my friends and I had with boxes. The concept is universal!
It’s one for your collection.
If you’re looking to add something new to your children’s book collection, Grace and Box is a definite winner. It’s a story that fosters imagination and creativity in children. (And it also gives parents some ideas for creative play.) So be warned. After reading this, your child may want a box of their own!
That’s all she wrote!
About the Writer: Brigid Levi is a freelance writer and editor based in the Philadelphia area. She has three children, a husband-child, and a dog. When she’s not freelancing or working on her own writing, Brigid can be found under all the blankets with coffee, tea, or wine (depending on the time of day) and a sweeping historical fiction novel. She hopes to publish her YA fantasy/adventure novel in the near future! Find out more about Brigid on her website.
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