When This Box Is Full

by Patricia Lillie and Donald Crews. (Greenwillow, 1993 ISBN 0-688-12016-4). Picture Book. Grades Pre-K+.
This review by Carol Otis Hurst first appeared in Teaching K-8 Magazine.

Review

The appealing textured and fuzzy look of the illustrations are achieved, the book says by using black and white photographs reproduced from line conversions screened with a "lasergrain" pattern. I'm not sure what that means but I love the result. I also love the design of the pages, the way the objects seem to leap out at you and the wonderful use of color. I love the plot which befits the simplicity of illustration.

We start with an empty wooden box. Each month the child adds some seasonally related object to the box while the months accumulate down the side of the page. In December, when the box is full, the child says he will give it to us. He already has.

This is a book to open together when you are working with the calendar, with the seasons, with boxes and their many uses or just because you need to gaze at those pages again. It's lovely.

Related Areas Within Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Web Site

• The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle. Featured Book Teachers Guide with review, discussion ideas, activities, related books and links.