BOX TALES

Creatively committed pals cobble together a backyard variety show.

Bea and BFF Box (a cheery cardboard container) wake up bright and early—perhaps a bit too early. It’s 3:47 a.m., and Box has just had a wonderful dream that the two of them must bring to life: mounting their own variety show! When the sun rises, the pair spring into action, arguing and eventually compromising on an absurdly complicated name for their show, passing out flyers advertising their afternoon performance, and creating their own emcee: a wise-cracking sock puppet named Suzy Sockington. Just when everything seems ready, they realize they haven’t planned their own acts yet, so they rush to whip up something spectacular before showtime. In the end, the pair pull together a spirited performance, with percussion, jokes, and a grand finale. Like the first tale in the series—which saw the duo working to grow strawberries—this one is goal-focused, though it compresses the process of planning and accomplishing the task at hand into a single day. This speed-up translates visually into flurries of activity and emotionally expressive close-ups. Once more, Bea and Box’s goofy give-and-take keeps the mood festive even amid conflict. Bea is brown-haired and olive-skinned; Bea and Box’s neighborhood is diverse.

Zany, buzzy feats of friendship make for a highly entertaining read.