The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There to Tuck You in

Rating:
Summary: Help kids stay connected while you're away with Magic Box
Review: "The Magic Box: When Parents Can't Be There To Tuck You In," by Marty Sederman and Seymour Epstein (Magination Press/American Psychological Association, 2003, 32 pages. Ages: 3-7. Paperback,...) When children are faced with a parent's overnight absence, they can be frightened, angry or unhappy. Here's book that shows how families can cope with absences and even have fun with them.

It tells the story of Casey, whose father announces he has to leave town for work again. "Oh no! Don't go!" Casey pleads. Dad explains that although he misses Casey, he simply has to travel sometimes for work. Then he challenges Casey to plan what the two can do together when he's gone. The next day, Mom helps Casey locate where Dad is on a map, and, when he's particularly blue, she surprises Casey with a glittery magic box Dad left for him. The box is filled with hugs and kisses and new markers, the note says. Casey feels much better and decides to make a surprise for Daddy, too.

"The Magic Box" includes a note to parents by clinical psychologist Ann Rasmussen, who explains how temporary absences can actually be positive learning experiences when children find ways to plan for the absence, stay connected to the traveling parent and look forward to the reunion. Such skills, she says, will help kids later in life.

Although the traveling parent in "The Magic Box" is the father, this book may also help families where the mother must be out of town at times for work.

---Sonja Meyer...


Rating:
Summary: keeping connected
Review: In this busy and fast paced world we live in, it is becoming more difficult to keep family members connected. It is especially difficult if a parent has a job which requires a lot of traveling. Children often do not realize why a parent has to leave so often. This book provides a wonderful way for traveling parents to stay connected to the daily lives of their children. It also gives the child the knowledge that even when dad is not at home he is thinking of him.

Rating:
Summary: A Must for Children Whose Parents Have to be Away
Review: Magic for children who miss their travelling parents!
At last a book that reaches out to children facing issues of parental separation of any kind!
I am a professional child-care provider and the mother of a four-year old. Some of the children that I read this book to have parents that are gone for weeks or days. For others, the parents are just out for the evening. But all the children who hear this book, including my son, identify with Casey and Whittnie and are comforted by the story. They are also captivated by the illustrations and are inspired to make magic boxes of their own.

Parents and teaches will find the "Notes to Parents" at the end of the book very helpful.
This book is a must for every home and school library. Definitely five stars.

Kimberly Thayer

Rating:
Summary: An excellent book
Review: The Magic Box is a well written book about a mom helping her son deal with the sadness of his dad often being away from home. It is a must read for any family who has a member that travels a lot for work. It lets a child know that is is okay to be sad (and even angry) when his dad is not home. It also offers an excellent solution to help ease that child's pain - to make a magic box filled with hugs and kisses. As my 7 year old said, "the best part about this book is that anyone can make a magic box."