The Big Box

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 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: it's a metaphor, silly
Review: i think this book is really about people giving up control of themselves and letting the government "take care" of them.

Rating:
Summary: Thinking Outside The Box?
Review: Patty, Mickey and Liza Sue all must live in a big brown box with doors that open only one way because they "can't handle their freedom." Patty's infraction is that she went four times to the toilet and talked in class; Mickey hollered in the hallway of his apartment; and Liza Sue, who lives in the country, let the chickens keep their eggs. These three kids do good things, however. They fold their socks, hang up their clothes, do fractions and give up peanut brittle, for example. Written by Toni Morrison and her brother Slade and lushly illustrated by Giselle Potter, this little book sends the message that parents should let their children be given a chance to handle their freedom.

What a wonderful lesson for parents to learn!

Rating:
Summary: Great message but too confusing for most kids
Review: The Big Box - a nice metaphor for the process by which adults tend to stifle the creativity, energy, and innocense of our children by forcing them to conform to our orderly, "boxy" world. Instead of celebrating their feisty ideals and championing their crazy nature, the powers-that-be pride themselves on gathering to diagnose and treat them for it, as if it were somehow criminal. Kudos to Toni Morisson and her son Slade for their fabulous depiction of an area where awareness is the first step to an alternative solution for today's youth. Enjoy sharing this one with your children and get ready for some interesting feedback!

Rating:
Summary: Insightful..profound!
Review: The first few pages made me uncomfortable (I'm not sure why). Then as I read on, I found myself cheering for the children and their freedom. I began to love the words and the rhyme. It certainly resonated for me..having raised one child (now 30)who epitomizes the concept of allowing children freedom of expression. She has grown into a creative, fearless woman who is living her dreams.

Perhaps most importantly, parents should read this book alone, then again with their children, followed by a discussion about what freedom means. While I do not believe children should run the show, they do need an environment in which they feel safe while expressing themselves. This would be a wonderful book for the Montessori Schools!

Rating:
Summary: Not for 4 year olds
Review: The message meant more to me than to my young children. They didnt understand why the children were being locked in a box. They think playing in cardboard boxes is fun, not a punishment for exercising too much freedom. I could see using the book as a basis for discussion, but I think it may just scare children that they too could be locked up by their parents.

Rating:
Summary: A different approach to discussing freedom
Review: This is a wonderful story for both children and adults. It tells of three children that get into trouble in the adult world and are placed in a big brown box. The children are simply displaying typical childish actions, yet are misunderstood by their parents. Very authentic for children to understand.

I have shared this book in my fourth grade classroom for the past three years. Each time I share it the students seem to understand the message and what it means to them in their own way. Although some think that this story is inappropriate for children I feel that it is wonderful for all ages. Don't underestimate what children can understand and take away from good literature. This can be a great piece of literature to use to discuss the idea of freedom with children.

Rating:
Summary: An enlightening story about behavior and freedoms.
Review: Three children have been banished to a big brown box where their parents visit them on Wednesdays. They have many wonderful "things" and favorite foods that all children are supposed to love. The children are in the box because they could not handle their freedoms: bad in school, at the apartment, and in nature. Each child gives a viable argument of what they do to help out their families and behave, but the bad outweighs the good and the adults win-- in the box they go. This is a wonderful story about freedoms, behavior, consequences and taking things for granted. This book would be especially useful as a supplemental text to share in a middle school/high school classroom setting.