Description
The Boy in the Box
A Parable for Children and Adults
A sad boy in a box is visited by a lively bee who encourages him to step out and live happily. A worthy message about how our thoughts and the choices we make affect our lives.
When at times life seems harsh and a bit scary
and it’s so hard to laugh to sing and be merry
when deep down inside you feel ever so lonely
and you say to yourself: “Oh, I wish, Oh, if only . . .”
What if your wish became suddenly true
and you could step out with your hat and your shoes
would you stay in your box and play the blame game
or kindle your spirit with a bright glowing flame?
♥
For my children Asaf and Talia
David Proud –
If you enjoy engagingly elegant and artfully unaffected verse written through the mind of a child, with all of its individuality and intricacy, portraying a rich inner and outer world of one that is at that early stage of self-discovery and thus subjected to emotionally charged ideas and feelings in a continual state of flux, then this is the book for you. As a former school teacher I know the level of skill required to achieve just the right tone and register appropriate for capturing the attention of children in a way that is both agreeably challenging for them while also fun to read. The sustained bouncy rhythm and dulcet rhyming are exquisitely pitched to be both playful and intense. The theme and sense of a child’s loneliness and the sudden and unexpected presentation of a possible escape route is captured in efficiently condensed writing from the very first verse. As a philosopher I can appreciate how well the child’s inquiring mind and sense of wonder is conveyed here, for children are natural philosophers, looking for meaning in a confusing world, thinking about what they ought to be doing, and about what it is they are wanting. The beautifully crafted illustrations perfectly complement the boy’s emotional roller coaster, his sudden shifts in mood from joy and hopefulness to doubt and despair under the influence of the honey bee, a presence ripe with significance and suggestion. Adults would find this a pleasing read too, open as it is to numerous possible interpretations. But coursing through the entire poem is a motif we understand well enough, whether young or old, our self-imposed limitations, our anxiety about taking the necessary risks to step beyond them and to find freedom and fulfillment not just in thinking outside the box but also in living outside it.
—David Proud, Philosopher, The Hegel Academy of Speculative Philosophy
Ayal Rosenberg –
I have followed Kira’s work for decades. Having read the ‘Boy in the Box’ in both Hebrew and English, I can join the immortal bard in saying: ‘From women’s eyes this doctrine I derive; They sparkle still the right Promethean fire; They are the books, the arts, the academies, that show, contain and nourish the world.’
—Ayal Rosenberg, Author, Denial
Noa Shimoni –
A book that falls into the ‘must read’ category. Written wonderfully and fluently. Recommended for children, parents, caregivers and poetry lovers. Expands the heart and gives hope.
—Noa Shimoni, Certified Consultant. M.A.
Carole Lieberman –
‘The Boy in the Box’ is a uniquely beautiful story—like a poem that stays in your heart. The illustrations convey, in an uncannily accurate way, the shades of emotions the boy is feeling. But, it’s not just a story about a boy and the bee who loves him, it’s a perfect story for today’s times when we’re all feeling afraid to come out of our box after the pandemic.
—Carole Lieberman, M.D., America’s Psychiatrist | Author, Lions and Tigers and Terrorists, Oh My! How to Protect Your Child in a Time of Terror
Judge James P. Gray (Ret.) –
Not only does ‘The Boy in the Box’ crackle with wisdom, it will put a smile on your heart, just like it did on mine.
—Judge James P. Gray (Ret.), Author A Voter’s Handbook (The Forum Press, 2010)