Rating: 
Summary: Five stars for adult readers, only one for children reader.
Review: As a twenty-something first grade teacher reading this book, I personally found Morrison's writing to be very thought-provoking and realistic in the actual portrayal of a child's mis-understanding of the purpose of rules which govern their very pre-teen existence. The metaphorical dipictions of how the three "troubled" characters react to the reasoning behind what seem to be unnecessary and consticting regulations draw me deeper into the story as the pages turn. The somber and confused response of each child to the various forms of behavioral intervention (before it may be just too late) by the adults makes me sympathize and reminisce about simlar circumstances of my childhood. I even began to feel somewhat sorry for these characters, and truthfully a bit melancholy. However, for the nine to eleven year old reader, for whom this book is recommended, I find the underlying concepts to be perhaps a little too difficult to grasp. The pictures are wonderful, and the lyrical flow make the story very fluid and easy to read. But, I can not fail to stress the sophistication of the meaning behind the written words. I would definitely recommend The Big Box to a friend who can look beyond the facade of sentences and words used to tell a story. .....Or, maybe some of the disciplinary bodies of my childhood or the cruel, wicked, just plain mean teachers who I call co-workers! - Thomas Michael Welch, Jr., Los Angeles, CA
Rating: 
Summary: A Rebellious Story
Review: Excellent work as one might have expected, but it is one that deals with a controversial issue. The story deals with the issue of freedom narrating the tale of three children who were put in a big box because they did not meet the rules of the adults. When those children are in the box, they receive a lot of nice things from their parents, but the drawings show their faces to be passive and lacking something. The adults are always described to "love very much" these children, but they use this love to take away the kids' freedom which "they cannot handle." The story ends with the sarcastic question "who says they cannot handle their freedom?" accompanied with a drawing of the three children breaking out of the box. I can imagine the debate this story is going to create, for, on the surface, it deals with the sensitive issue of how much freedom should be granted to children, and whether they are illegible to make some or all decisions. The story kind of encourages kids to rebel against the adults who represent oppression in this story, and this might be problematic for some people. The story of course implies a much more serious message than the simple one introduced through the words and rhymes. The general concept of oppression is the main theme here. The drawings help illustrate this message..again this might be very problematic for people. I personally loved the fact that it made me uncertain of how to introduce the story to my kids and how to discuss it with them. I am not that afraid to be uncertain in front of them any more. I show them, sometimes, that I am unable to decide about things or actually unable to judge things, and this takes a big load off my back. Hay, finally a not very boring children's story.... Any way, me and my children had a good time reading the story and discussing the meanings of it. I tried to ignore the idea of them rebelling against me as much as I can because I like my dictatorship over them :), but they impressed me with their questions and statements, and that was what I mostly liked about the story..the discussion it stirred. My son took the book to bed, and I heard him later reading it loudly to himself with a reciting tone ..I hope he is not getting any ideas!
Rating:
Summary: A different approach to discussing freedom
Review: Feeling twinges of regret at my own childhood, this story resonated with me on a deep emotional level. There is a tendency in today's society to replace experience with material objects, and for parents to protect their children by sheltering them from the world as opposed to guiding them through life experiences. Unlike other reviewers, I do not find the children in this story to be victims of emotional or behavioral disorders, but rather, alive with all the creativity and awareness that a child new to the world finds innate. The adults, unable to reconcile the self expression of each child finds it necessary to lock the child in "a box"-- a metaphor for over-protective adults encouraging conformity as opposed to creative thinking-- and further drives the point home by medicating the child with commercialism and imitations of real experience: plastic toys, televisions, dolls that have "already been named", Spice Girl tee shirts, pictures of the sky and small boxes of actual dirt. This book does hold a strong message for adults, but I think that children who read this book should not be underestimated. Discussion about the themes could encourage children to think more about their role in society as creative thinkers. Such as: What does it mean that the children receive dolls that are already named? Ask the child, "Do like naming your own dolls? What do you think about getting a toy that already has a name?" Questions along these lines explore ideas about self-expression and ingenuity, and hopefully looking at these parts of the story will allow most to get past their knee-jerk reaction that the book encourages rebellion against adults and instigates fear or disobedience in children.
Rating:
Summary: plastic toys & dolls with names
Review: Feeling twinges of regret at my own childhood, this story resonated with me on a deep emotional level. There is a tendency in today's society to replace experience with material objects, and for parents to protect their children by sheltering them from the world as opposed to guiding them through life experiences. Unlike other reviewers, I do not find the children in this story to be victims of emotional or behavioral disorders, but rather, alive with all the creativity and awareness that a child new to the world finds innate. The adults, unable to reconcile the self expression of each child finds it necessary to lock the child in "a box"-- a metaphor for over-protective adults encouraging conformity as opposed to creative thinking-- and further drives the point home by medicating the child with commercialism and imitations of real experience: plastic toys, televisions, dolls that have "already been named", Spice Girl tee shirts, pictures of the sky and small boxes of actual dirt. This book does hold a strong message for adults, but I think that children who read this book should not be underestimated. Discussion about the themes could encourage children to think more about their role in society as creative thinkers. Such as: What does it mean that the children receive dolls that are already named? Ask the child, "Do like naming your own dolls? What do you think about getting a toy that already has a name?" Questions along these lines explore ideas about self-expression and ingenuity, and hopefully looking at these parts of the story will allow most to get past their knee-jerk reaction that the book encourages rebellion against adults and instigates fear or disobedience in children.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for any Specail Ed. Educator!
Review: From the instant I began to read this book, I knew it was perfect for the special education world. The books main theme of being "locked" up and having basic freedoms taken away, is what many special education students often feel. I work with emotionally disturbed students and the impact made by the children in the book made me feel a bit of what my students often do. Though the book is for a higher age level, the book can be read to and explained to a much younger group of children. It is always a healthy experience to talk about any idea or feeling, and this is a perfect example! The feeling of having your freedoms taken away because you are not like everyone else and do not conform to anyone's image! Thank you Toni and Slade Morrison for this wonderful book!
Rating:
Summary: THIS BOOK IS GREAT!
Review: I am a 19 year old college student who works at a daycare center and I love this book. I think this book is a great self-esteem builder for the troubled child. So many times adults are quick to write off children as "problematic" when they do things out of the ordinary. This book lets children know that even if they are different they still have something to offer.
Rating: 
Summary: not appropriate for kids
Review: I am a teacher, when I read the review about this book, I thought I would love it as I love Toni Morrison. I found this book to be too scary for children. It talks about children who were put in a box because they couldn't handle their freedom. I don't like the moral behind it either. The picture are lovely though!
Rating: 
Summary: Great idea, beautiful illustrations, but...
Review: I found the idea behind this book, and the way in which it was presented, to be wonderful. The illustrations are lively and filled with a sort of movement that is accompanied by language which really gives the reader a sense of the "soul" (if one can say that) of each of these amazing kids. I have to say, however, that when I began to read of the first child's condemnation to "the big box", I caught my breath and grabbed my chest and thought, "I can't give this to a child; it would scare them too much." The way in which the sentence is presented leads one to believe that there really is a big box and kids really do get locked away for being themselves. Young children who are just beginning to come into a sense of themselves don't understand the figurative as well as adults do. I agree with the reader who suggested that this book be recommended for adults and not children.
Rating:
Summary: Pay attention to the message!
Review: I found this book to be a very interesting commentary on the way children are thought of and treated in American culture. Many reviewers seemed to dislike this story but I wonder if that has anything to do with people's not wanting to admit some of this just might be true. A great book for children who are "different" or who do or see things in creative ways. A should-read for anyone who works with or has children!
Rating:
Summary: Great message but too confusing for most kids
Review: I go to Harwich Junior Thheatre for classes. Were doing an adaption of it to perform in the park. I play Mickey. This is a great book but I diidn't understand it's moral at first. But rating it as a book for all ages. i give it 5 stars.
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