The Big Brown Box [Hardcover]

Marisabina Russo (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up | Grade Level: P and up

It's a big brown box! Or maybe it's a house with windows and a door. Or a cozy, dark cave. Or a ship on the ocean. But whatever it is, Sam's box is no place for baby brother Ben.

There's BIG trouble brewing over the big brown box...until Mama finds a solution that's a perfect fit for everyone.

Children's Books 2000-NY Public Lib.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 3-Sam's favorite toy is a big cardboard box that he imaginatively turns into a house, a cave, and a boat. His little brother Ben wants to join in the fun but his pleas of "Me too" are flatly refused: "You are the big bad wolf.-Leave my house alone!" "You are a scary, hairy bear, and bears don't belong in my cave." "You are a vicious silver shark, and you will eat me if I let you in." When Mama finds a smaller box for Ben, Sam has a new idea and the two brothers become astronauts, each in his own spaceship. The well-paced, child-centered text is complemented by Russo's trademark two-dimensional gouache illustrations that realistically capture the creative play of children. Young readers will relate to the sibling conflict and the resolution warmly encourages cooperation. A lovely addition to all collections.
Linda Ludke, London Public Library, Ontario, Canada
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

With humor but no condescension, Russo captures the preschooler's intense daily drama. Sam takes a big, brown box to his room and makes it a house, a cave, a boat. But his game is interrupted by his little brother, Ben, who wants to join in. "Go away!" says Sam, who sees his pesky toddler Ben as the big bad wolf; the scary, hairy bear; and the vicious silver shark. Then Mama gives Ben his own box, a smaller one, and the two children play spaceships together. The bright, clear gouache pictures depict the joyful imaginative play and the sibling rivalry, showing the changing perspectives both inside and outside the box. In funny contrast are the scratchy images of the big bad wolf and the other monsters that Sam imagines his tearful, persistent little brother to be. Both younger and older siblings will enjoy the last page, when the boys are having lunch and arguing again over who gets which cupcake. Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; 1st edition (May 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 068817096X
• ISBN-13: 978-0688170967
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 10.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #629,626 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic--No one Shares All the Time, May 8, 2010

By 

Terrie Lynn Bittner "Author of Homeschooling:... (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Brown Box (Hardcover)

How many times have you said, "No, you can't play with that? It's Mommy's." No one wants to share everything all the time, not even adults. Some things are just too special for us. This book helps a child learn another solution when he is not ready to share a favorite toy. Sharing is a very sophisticated concept, especially to a child who is always expected to share everything when the adults don't share with him.

1.0 out of 5 stars I won't be sharing this book with the kiddos...., April 17, 2007

By 

K "Mother of Three" (Oregon USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Brown Box (Hardcover)

What a horrible lesson in sharing. This book only teaches that it is okay to be selfish. I was shocked when I read this to the end, thankfully not to my little ones, and was sad to see it did not redeem itself. Definitely not a story about sharing...but rather a lesson in being self centered.

4.0 out of 5 stars Sharing between siblings, September 17, 2000

By 

Michael S Roberts - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Big Brown Box (Hardcover)

Marisabina Russo has shown a way that young siblings can share. The story also shows that parents can only do so much in the developmental process of sharing. I wished that I had had this story to learn from and share with my boys when they were these ages and going through the sharing stage.