I was pleasantly delighted by this charming story! Written as a picture book for adults, it contains allegory much like that found in The Giving Tree while still being accessible and enjoyable for younger readers. It takes several readings to absorb all of what the book is trying to convey, even though the text itself is fairly short. The illustrations are much like those found in the Sunday comics, and I found myself laughing at several of the expressions depicted in them. You’ll definitely want to check out this story, especially if you’ve ever put your things (physical or emotional) into boxes for “safekeeping” and forgotten to truly live. Please see my full review below!
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Is there anything greater than finding the perfect box in which to store one’s treasured possessions? A young boy loves boxes of all shapes and colors, and he especially enjoys placing all his toys and books inside them. As the boy gets older, he finds even more boxes and stores less tangible items—like his relationships and beliefs—inside those. But when a pandemic shocks the world, the man loses his sense of control and he must find a way to reconnect the broken pieces of himself, ultimately discovering a sense of peace he has never before experienced. Though directed at adults, this picture book is delightful for readers of all ages and teaches an important lesson about balancing control with freedom. Written in short sentences with very few words on each page, the initial appearance of the story is light and accessible. However the deeper one reads into the book, the more nuances they find. Newspaper comic-like illustrations depict the boy in his various stages of life as he covets his boxes of things. The boy is shown in black-and-white throughout the majority of the book, while his boxes appear in rich color; however, as the boy’s attitude changes, so too do the illustrations in order to visually represent the boy’s emotional transitions. Funny, heartwarming, and thought-provoking, this book is one that adults can enjoy on their own while simultaneously appealing to families with young children, as well. This is a noteworthy addition to libraries for any reader who likes to examine the world in novel and memorable ways.
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