Magic Box

Magic Box
Written and Illustrated by: Katie Cleminson
Published: 2009


Eva was given a cardboard box for her birthday, but this was a special box. When she hopped in, Eva emerged as a magician who with each wave of her magic wand brought a new wonderful surprise for her birthday (including delicious food, rabbits from hats, and very large friend named Monty. Through her imagination, Eva made a simple box a thing of wonder and magic.


The wonderful thing about this book is it all about the importance of using one's imagination. Most children probably would not appreciate a box for their birthday, but in this story a box made it possible for Eva to have the birthday of her dream. I think this is lovely message not to focus only on the material things, but to value a gift, to value a day by the experiences and the memories made on it. It is important to note that while Eva creates all sorts of wonderful things with her magical ability, at the end of the day, she snaps her fingers and everything disappears. Or seems to. On the last page, the reader sees Eva sitting on her new polar bear Morty's head. The existence of Morty, even when the rest of the "magic" has gone back into the box serves to show that even at the end of the day, some part our creative imaginings stays with us.


What I truly loved about the illustrations is that everything is in black and white except the spots of color to represent magic and Eva's shirt and cheeks. To me, the very specific placement of color shows that the magic comes from Eva. The color splotches might appear to be coming from the box (which is shown as a magician's hat throughout most of the story), but  the only drawing consistent color on every page is Eva.


Another interesting note about illustration is that the text layout is inspired by the story. For example, when it says Monty is large, the word large is written  twice as big as the rest of the sentence. Additionally, when, using the magic wand, "Eva threw a huge party," the text seems to fly in arch through the air, as though she really did throw the party. Similarly, when "with a flick of her wand, she made things float in the air," the text waves as though it is likewise floating. On this same page, the illustration changes perspective so as to appear to look down on Eva while she looks up at Monty and the rabbits all floating high above her head.


On a personal note, while I was never given a cardboard box for my birthday, I do remember that my favorite childhood games, my favorite memories of playtime, were not when I was playing with some of my surely too expensive dress-up toys or the trampoline in the yard. Instead the best times were when the trampoline was the moon, the dress-up toys were the Queen's jewels, and my backyard was not a backyard but a foreign land complete with traps set to keep me from completing my secret spy mission (most likely to rescue the Queen's jewels from their hidden location on the moon). This book serves to remind kids and adults alike that the development of an imagination is really the best gift a child can be given. Or at least, that's the reminder it gave me.


Related links:
Cardboard Box Crafts
Magic Tricks For Kids






http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magic-box-katie-cleminson/1100559595? ean=9781423121091&itm=2&usri=magic%2bbox%2bkatie%2bcleminson