BOX TALES

Intrepid pals take an excursion into the woods.

Bea, a curious kid, and BFF Box (an aptly named sentient cardboard container) are always eager to explore the world around them. So it’s no surprise that the third book in their smart, silly series finds them researching at the library. While the two are comparing the largest things that ever lived, Bea pinpoints a contender that’s surprisingly close by! It’s a 379-foot-tall giant redwood, the Titan, and Bea’s determined to see it in person. Bea happily plans a camping trip; reluctant Box worries (the woods are rife with perils for a cardboard box, from bark beetles to wildfires). But together they organize a “Survival School” as they gather supplies, practice using a compass, and prepare for possible encounters with bears and Bigfoot. Then it’s time to camp (accompanied by Bea’s mother). The woods hold many wonders: unblocked views of the Milky Way, a rushing waterfall, and, of course, the glorious giant redwood. But challenges arise when Mom twists her ankle and Bea and Box must put their survival skills to work. The series’ recurrent theme of trying new things with humor and intention is perfectly realized here, and Burk’s affable, bright cartooning deftly takes the duo on a field trip well beyond Bea’s backyard. Bea and Mom have brown hair and skin.

An entertaining and engaging forest adventure.