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JACK AND THE BOX by Art Spiegelman

JACK AND THE BOX

by Art Spiegelman & illustrated by Art Spiegelman

Pub Date: Oct. 6th, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9799238-3-8
Publisher: RAW Junior/TOON Books

A long way from Dick and Jane, this near-primer tries hard, and with at least some success, to rob a scary toy of its power to frighten a youngster. Jack the rabbit is thrilled to receive a box covered in stars from his fond parents. His enthusiasm for the gift changes to fright, however, when a green-faced, pop-eyed talking clown head suddenly lunges out at him. Still, in subsequent playful interchanges with it, Jack gradually comes to agree with its claim that it is not a bad toy at all but a silly one—but not before it, Cat in the Hat–like, unleashes both subsidiary toys and terrifying chaos in a sequence color shifts indicate may well be imaginary. Framed in one or two sequential panels per page done in flat colors, simple shapes and with an all-dialogue text in balloons, the episode looks like a comic for brand new readers. There’s a lot going on beneath the surface, though, and this may have some therapeutic value for older children too. (Graphic early reader. 4-8)