Not a Box by Antoinette Portis

Portis, Antoinette. Not a Box. New York, NY: HarperCollins, 2006. 32 pages. ISBN: 978- 0061123221. Preschool and up. Picture book. Official website: http://www.antoinetteportis.com/index1.html


An imaginative rabbit uses a rectangular object (a box) for creative play. The rabbit imagines that it is a burning building for him to extinguish, a robot for him to turn into, a mountain to climb to the top of, a pirate ship to sail, hot air balloon to fly, and so on. Questions are posed by an unseen inquirer and spur the rabbit to think of more creative ways to use the box instead of obstinately sticking to a singular idea. He always replies, "It's not a box" while displaying what it actually can become. 


This is a humorous story about the power of imagination that will help children to think creatively and independently. I enjoyed how the rabbit shared his imaginary world with the inquirer and continued to think creatively. This would be a good read aloud book.