The Big Box

by Toni Morrison and Slade Morrison

Book Overview

To make three youngsters - Patty, Mickey and Liza Sue - abide by their rules, the grown-ups - parents, teachers and other adults - create a world inside a box, a world with toys, games, treats and gifts. But all Patty, Mickey and Liza Sue really want is the freedom to be themselves.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786804165
• ISBN13: 9780786804160
• Release Date: September 1999
• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• Length: 48 Pages
• Weight: 1.17 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 11.3" x 11.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

A different approach to discussing freedom

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.

A Rebellious Story

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!

A must read for any Specail Ed. Educator!

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!

THIS BOOK IS GREAT!

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.