The Thumb in the Box [Paperback]

Ken Roberts (Author), Leanne Franson (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 2 and up

Leon and his friend Susan live in New Auckland, an isolated village on the northwest coast of British Columbia. One day, the village receives an unexpected gift from the government — a fire truck. The problem is that mountains surround the village. There are no roads, no cars, and no fire hydrants. The man who comes to build the fire station brings with him a practical joke that scares the wits out of Leon and Susan — a real live wiggling thumb. It’s a toss-up as to which object will leave a bigger impact on the villagers — the first vehicle they’ve ever seen or the bizarre appendage.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. New Aukland is a tiny town in British Columbia, nestled between mountains and the ocean. The village has no roads, so when the government sends the town a fire truck, the villagers don't know what to do with it. They don't even have a place to keep it. The man who comes to build the firehouse brings with him a practical joke that both amuses and scares the townsfolk. Told through the character of likable 11-year-old Leon, this summer-of-the-fire-truck story evokes a charming picture of the little coastal town, with its crescent-shaped beach and its quirky inhabitants. The villagers' strong sense of community and ability to work together like a family enable them to find an unusual solution to their unusual problem. The story's humor and insight will appeal even to the most reluctant readers. Helen Rosenberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Groundwood Books (February 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0888994222
• ISBN-13: 978-0888994226
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5.1 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,284,147 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A humorous, carefree story, August 17, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Thumb in the Box (Hardcover)

The Thumb In The Box is a charming, quirky picturebook for young readers about an isolated Canadian village on the coast of British Columbia, which received an unexpected gift fire truck. The man who comes to build a fire station brings along a "detached thumb" as a practical joke, scaring the townspeople and making his mark on an eccentric community that includes a lion, a famous artist, and Leon, a boy who can't stop grinning. The Thumb In The Box is a humorous, carefree story with an appeal that crosses national borders.