Boxitects

by Kim Smith, Kim Smith (Illustrator)

Overview

A STEAM-centered, adorably illustrated picture book about Meg, a brilliant and creative boxitect who creates extraordinary things out of ordinary cardboard boxes.

Meg is a brilliant and creative boxitect. She loves impressing her teacher and classmates with what she makes out of boxes.

But there’s a new kid at Maker School: Simone. Simone is good at everything, and worst of all, she’s a boxitect too.

When the annual Maker Match is held, Meg and Simone are paired as a team but can’t seem to stop arguing. When their extraordinary project turns into a huge disaster, they must find a way to join creative forces, lift each other up, and work together.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781328477200
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	01/14/2020
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	101,382
Product dimensions:	9.10(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.40(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Kim Smith has illustrated several books, including picture book versions of Home Alone, E.T., and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.
kimillustration.com
Twittter @kimdraws
Instagram @kimillustration

Kim Smith has illustrated several books, including picture book versions of Home Alone, E.T., and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She lives in Calgary, Alberta.
kimillustration.com
Twittter @kimdraws
Instagram @kimillustration

Editorial Reviews

"Personality and a developmental message successfully combine for STEAM fun." — Kirkus Reviews

 "[T]his offers a supportive, upbeat approach to encouraging imagination and learning, not to mention the rewards of creativity and collaboration." — Booklist

From the Publisher

 "[T]his offers a supportive, upbeat approach to encouraging imagination and learning, not to mention the rewards of creativity and collaboration."

Booklist

 "[T]his offers a supportive, upbeat approach to encouraging imagination and learning, not to mention the rewards of creativity and collaboration."

Booklist

2019-09-29
Meg stands out as a brilliant boxitect—until Simone comes along.

Meg makes all sorts of things out of boxes: "tiny houses, tall towers, twisty tunnels," and inventions no one else had seen before. When Meg goes to Maker School, she finds "blanketeers, spaghetti-tects, tin-foilers, and egg-cartoners," but as the first boxitect in class, she feels special. But then Simone comes along. She's brilliant and creative like Meg—and a boxitect, just like Meg. Instead of hitting it off, the two are immediate rivals, trading snide remarks and criticizing each other's work. When the school competition rolls around and students have to work in teams, the boxitect team is the one that is not going smoothly. Meg and Simone split up the materials and compete with each other to make the better half. But when their infighting proves disastrous, the pair quickly learns to work together, gaining skills and friendship. The story arc contains just enough suspense to keep readers interested, and the humorous text is engaging. Smith's cartoon illustrations are a combination of double-page spreads, full-page scenes, and smaller vignettes that use a variety of shapes, patterns, and contrasting colors for a lively and creative maker's world. Meg's brown skin and puffy hair and Simone's Asian presentation put this in the growing and necessary category of picture books that feature modern diverse characters doing everyday things.

Personality and a developmental message successfully combine for STEAM fun. (Picture book. 3-8)

Kirkus Reviews