Do Not Open The Box!
written by Timothy Young | illustrated by Timothy Young
picture book

This book is too much fun for kids and adults alike. It wakes up imaginations and allows you to go wild, imagining what could be in the box. The cartoony artwork is printed against a background made to look like corrugated cardboard, making the story look like it’s been written and drawn on a chunk of cardboard box. Sentences are simple and short, written in a rounded font and in blue to stand out against the brown cardboard background.

Each spread has Benny wondering what could be in the box, and a rendering of his imagination. Kids will have loads of fun with this book: especially with the end reveal.

Do Not Open The Box!
  • Author: Timothy Young
  • Illustrator: Timothy Young
  • Grade: Preschool – 1
  • Binding: Hardcover, 32 pp.
  • Publisher: Schiffer; 1 edition (December 29, 2015)

Bring out your own box for storytime, and have kids guess what could be in it! They can draw what they think, or they can call it out, but it’ll get their minds working and they’ll learn more about how guessing can lead us to the answers, if you provide hints and information as you go along. I could hide a teddy bear in a box and tell the kids that something furry is in the box; using trial and error, they can figure it out.

Rosemary Kiladitis
Rosemary received her Masters in Library and Information Science from San Jose State University in 2013 and is a children's librarian in the Queens Library system. She loves connecting the right kid with the right book and watching the magic happen. Learn more about Rosemary!