SLJ top 100

Not a bad story.

Very cute. It's a playful exploration of what you can pretend boxes to be. The line drawings are charming and imaginative, and the plot is true to how children love to play in boxes.

Message

Imagination is awesome.

What are monkeys doing in Europe, anyway?

So he just solves the problem through anger? That's weird. It's kind of strange, because there's no real location for this. He's depicted as being in a town with a church, and houses and such, but there's a bunch of monkeys in the tree.

Message

You can solve your problems through anger.

Intelligent doughnuts and the implications thereof.

I don't think it would upset children. I don't think children would understand the implications of this. Maybe I'm just weird-- no. No. The book is definitely weird. It's not me.

Message

None. It defies morals.

A new land of possibility and poignancy.

The wordless drawings capture the potential and amazement of moving to a new land, but also the loneliness, isolation, homesickness and difficulty communicating with people.

Message

Moving is difficult but rewarding.