I Need a Lunch Box

by Jeannette Franklin Caines, Pat Cummings (Illustrator)

Sometimes it's hard to be a younger brother and watch your older sister get everything she needs to start school -- especially when what you want most is to have a bright, shiny new lunch box just like hers. And it doesn't matter if you're still not old enough to go to school -- a lunch box is the perfect place to keep dozens of things besides food. In a wonderful and imaginative collaboration of talents, Jeannette Caines and Pat Cummings have teamed up to create a delightful fantasy about one boy's dream of having a lunch box of his own.

Genres: School, Picture Books, Childrens, Family

32 pages, Library Binding

Published September 7, 1988

About the author

Jeannette Franklin Caines is the recipient of the National Black Child Development Institute's Certificate of Merit and Appreciation.

Ms. Caines grew up in Harlem and now lives in Freeport, Long Island.

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Text to world connection

Lets Move!, was a public campaign led by former first lady Michelle Obama. The campaign aims to reduce childhood obesity by encouraging a healthy lifestyle in children. Lets Move seeks to decrease childhood obesity to 5% by 2030. The campaign advocates healthy eating habits to be promoted by schools, families, and communities. In the story "I need a lunchbox" the book touches on what goes into a lunchbox. Some of the foods listed are healthy and others are not. By using a book like this, I hope to spark a discussion with my students that could aid the campaign's goal towards healthy eating.

[Jessica Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is great for children to learn colors and the days of the week. I think children (and adults) can relate to the main character because he REALLY wants a new lunch box. There are always things that we want, and sometimes we are able to get them and other times we cannot. This story paints a picture of this idea and I enjoyed reading it. It is also great when it comes to expressing/discussing imagination... something children usually have a lot of.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the illustrations appear dated, this story carries through the time warp. When his sister gets a lunch box for school, her younger brother dreams of his own. Captures the feeling of having an older sibling who is starting school.

[Sherillyn Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the topic. Good way to talk about feelings. Good way to explore sibling issues. Good social emotional private read or class discussion topic.

[Caroline Petty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple and fun book that can resonate with most children who have siblings. It describes a typical child with an older sister/brother who goes through a particular life phase first and gets to experience things before the younger child. In this case it is a lunchbox along with other school supplies that makes the character in this book feel just a little bit less special for a period of time. The book teaches that people in our lives may have things that we do not but we must realize that everyone is different and we should appreciate what we have in the long run.

[Dolly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun story about the anticpation of going to school and the special excitement of a new lunchbox (or backpack!) Our youngest watched her older sister go to school for a whole year before she was old enough to attend as well. She was often frustrated that her sister got to do something special and could empathize with this little boy.

[Melissa Housholder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of a little boy who wants a lunch box like his bis sister. His parents told him he could not have a lunch box until he started school. He imagined all the different things he could do with his lunch box if he had one. He really wanted that lunch box. Simple story, but shows great imagination on behalf of the little guy!

[Sara B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a younger brother whose sister is getting ready for the school year. They go shopping and buy everything for the sister. On the first day of school the younger brother sees his sister with her new lunch box and wishes his parents had purchased one for him.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little boy is dying for a lunchbox and is imagining a series of amazing ones! One of the best books I've read with kids in a long time and leads to a great project on what their dream lunchbox would look like...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young boy is jealous that his sister, who is starting school, gets a lunch box and he doesn't. Young readers can relate to this story of being too young and having to wait. Fabulous illustrations of dream lunch boxes make this a fun read aloud.

[Jennifer (sullivan) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Genre: Picture Book/Non Fiction

This book is a good read for younger siblings before they go back to school shopping.

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved this little book about a boy's desire of owning a lunchbox.