theladydoor's review
4.0
Well-written and well-drawn series of vignettes about the incredible imagination of a neighborhood crew of kids. Anyone who reads this will find at least one character to identify with, and it touches upon subjects like divorce and bullying with compassion.
thesweaterlibrarian's review
5.0
Fun summer read with a diverse cast of characters that each deal with unique issues throughout the story. Left me with a smile on my face!
mat_tobin's review
5.0
Gathering together a team of ten writers and illustrators, Chad Sell has created here a collaboration that is as tender and warm as it is humorous and fun.
Set within a fictitious neighbourhood, each short story features the introduction of a family (child-focused) on the block and how they transform, through cardboard and imagination, into heroes (and villains) to form a large, friendly group. Our story starts with the Sorceress, a young boy who loves dressing up in flowing gowns and wreaking destruction all the way through to a lovely collaborative story that features all the children from the block. Although each story features a new writer and is illustrated by Sell, the storyline is seamless and full of children from a huge range of backgrounds and ethnicities - and it is this which is the perfect bind that ties all the narratives together.
I can't rate this book enough. Having read it alone, I am now sharing it with my 6&7-year-old boys and they're loving it for lots of different reasons. No one is ostracised here or segregated and it was a refreshing sign to have the staple, stereotypical street bully (a broad-shouldered white boy) be lovingly accepted into the fold by the others.
Set within a fictitious neighbourhood, each short story features the introduction of a family (child-focused) on the block and how they transform, through cardboard and imagination, into heroes (and villains) to form a large, friendly group. Our story starts with the Sorceress, a young boy who loves dressing up in flowing gowns and wreaking destruction all the way through to a lovely collaborative story that features all the children from the block. Although each story features a new writer and is illustrated by Sell, the storyline is seamless and full of children from a huge range of backgrounds and ethnicities - and it is this which is the perfect bind that ties all the narratives together.
I can't rate this book enough. Having read it alone, I am now sharing it with my 6&7-year-old boys and they're loving it for lots of different reasons. No one is ostracised here or segregated and it was a refreshing sign to have the staple, stereotypical street bully (a broad-shouldered white boy) be lovingly accepted into the fold by the others.
quiet_chaos's review
5.0
This book checks all the boxes for a middle grade graphic novel. All of them. Basically, a bunch of kids spend a summer playing together with cardboard boxes and becoming heroes and villains. They come from various backgrounds, but their common ground is the cardboard boxes. We have race diversity, LGBTQA+ diversity, body diversity, possible neurodiversity.
The Prince and the Rogue story was my favorite.
There's not a lot of "plot," but there are many mini-stories going on. It's a feel good book about the simplicity of imagination and a cardboard box.
The Prince and the Rogue story was my favorite.
There's not a lot of "plot," but there are many mini-stories going on. It's a feel good book about the simplicity of imagination and a cardboard box.
therearenobadbooks's review
5.0
I wish I had played like this when I was younger. So creative to make costumes out of cardboard that translates so well to our personality.
There's a place for everywhere
All stories are welcomed
Some episodes have no words but deep meaning
Lots of short stories in one single volume
Imagination, Make belief for fantasy lovers
Sometimes addresses really sad, serious, relatable issues.
Awesome.
There's a place for everywhere
All stories are welcomed
Some episodes have no words but deep meaning
Lots of short stories in one single volume
Imagination, Make belief for fantasy lovers
Sometimes addresses really sad, serious, relatable issues.
Awesome.
librarianryan's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
This is a fun Middlegrade, but that was chosen as an Illinois read title a few years ago. It’s all about kids imagination and how they play when allowed to use their imagination. They don’t need fancy toys or video games. They just need some cardboard and some friends. This book works quite well and there’s more than one volume. Perfect for elementary and middle grade leaders.
murphmurph's review
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ericadeb's review
4.0
Let me start by saying that I loved this book- the art, the concept, the stories. It was great to read, motivational and made me want to have this kind of childhood BUT at the same time it was unnaturally (dare I say millennially) diverse. This neighborhood has people of many different nationalities who almost all decide to buck gender norms. While I think that is amazing, you know there would be a girl in the neighborhood who wanted to be the pretty princess. I am all for tough girls, but the animal queen was the only one who was girly. I think that truly diverse stories include gender norms AND kids who ignore them both. Because that is real life. This neighborhood is like an idyllic melting pot that you don’t really see in the real world. Now, stepping off my soap box, I otherwise loved it and all the issues it tackled.
atlantadonn's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0