Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow!

by James Burks

"Fun, expressive, informative, and imaginative! I want a box full of these books!" —Ben Clanton, New York Times bestselling author of the Narwhal and Jelly

A trilogy of fun, charming, and how-to stories following the curious and spunky Beatrix and Box.

Beatrix and Box want to eat a million strawberries! But their only way to do it is to grow their own strawberry garden! But well, how do you plant a garden? Do fruits grow in the ground? Is there a Pickle Tree? Or a Blueberry Muffin Bush? Where are the magic beans? And what do you talk to your plants about if you want them to grow big and strong?

The two friends plant. They water. They wait... and they wait... and they wait some more. They had no idea it takes this long for plants to grow. Who has the patience to wait this long? And who or what is nibbling on the leaves? Beatrix and Box's frustrations are growing faster than their garden. Will Beatrix and Box run out of patience and quit before their garden bears fruit, or will they feast on the goodies they grow?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Childrens, Humor

128 pages, Hardcover

Published September 16, 2025

About the author

I've worked as an artist in the animation industry for companies like Disney, Warner Brothers, and Nickelodeon. Projects I've worked on include the Emperor's New Groove, Atlantis, Treasure Planet, Home on the Range, Space Jam, the Iron Giant and the television shows, Wow Wow Wubbzy, Ni-hao Kai-lan, the Dinosaur Train and most recently on Cartoon Network's PowerPuff Girls.

I also write and illustrate my own books including the Graphix graphic novel series Bird and Squirrel, and Agent 9.

Reviews

[Jesse]

On one hand, I have a problem with inanimate objects with faces as characters, on the other hand waking mom up because you want to go to the library in three hours is hilarious, but back to the first hand I do not appreciate food allergies as punchlines, but to the second these two characters are adorable and funny. So let’s split the difference and make it 4 stars.

[Nadina]

This was cute, I liked the illustrations, it was well paced. Enjoyable characters. Absolutely would recommend.

[Mandy]

Children's graphic novel. Beatrix and Box love strawberries. After they tear through a pack, they of course ask for mom to buy more. But she says they are too expensive to buy so frequently and they will just have to eat lima beans. In a fit of inspiration, they decide to grown their own strawberries. After planting the tops doesn't produce results, they consult their neighbor. She gives them some strawberry runners and shows them how to plant. They plant in their yard, and impatiently wait for their harvest.

This book was fun and a good way to show kids what goes into growing a crop for food on the home garden scale. I liked that they had some trial and error, consulted an expert, and went to the library. And of course the very realistic urge after eating the fruits of their labor-- what can we plant next? I'm not sure what the box is all about, but it lives with Beatrix and is clearly recognized by others.

[KATIE MEYERS]

Box Tales: Grow, Strawberries, Grow! is a delightful and imaginative early graphic story that blends humor, curiosity, and gentle learning in a very engaging way. Beatrix and Box make a charming duo as they explore the process of growing their own strawberry garden.
What makes this book stand out is its playful approach to curiosity. The questions and misunderstandings about gardening add humor while also encouraging young readers to think, explore, and learn alongside the characters.
The story also captures the patience required for growth in a way that feels natural and relatable. Watching Beatrix and Box wait, wonder, and sometimes get frustrated makes the eventual payoff feel even more rewarding.
A fun, sweet, and educational read that’s perfect for early readers who enjoy stories about friendship, discovery, and nature.

[Amethyst Maxey]

Thank you for the ARC. I didn’t realize this was such a long book. It was too long for my young kiddo but the pictures were great and I liked the comic book type of style.

Beatrix and Box want to eat a million strawberries! But their only way to do it is to grow their own strawberry garden!

The two friends plant. They water. They wait... and they wait... and they wait some more. They had no idea it takes this long for plants to grow. Who has the patience to wait this long? And who or what is nibbling on the leaves? Beatrix and Box's frustrations are growing faster than their garden. Will Beatrix and Box run out of patience and quit before their garden bears fruit, or will they feast on the goodies they grow?

[Sadie-Jane Huff]

Book 155 of 350 ~ 2025

🌟🌟🌟🌟

I enjoyed this a lot and now I have a hankering for Strawberries and fresh strawberry lemonade lol

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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[Mara K.]

a short, funny and sweet guide to growing your own strawberries. very informative, while keeping it light, cheerful and appealing to young readers. the only thing would be that when you pick strawberries, usually the stems don't poke quite so straight up. i liked that they had to protect the strawberries from critters, but i would have been fun if that went somewhere. like they discover what the best way to keep critters out is. but a great book for begginging readers.

thanks to netgalley and the publisher for letting me read it in advance!

[Steph]

At 223 pages, it’s a lovely length for younger graphic novel readers, and after finishing it, I’m definitely craving strawberries (and certainly not lima beans!)

There is something absolutely charming about the friendship in the story, and I felt myself smiling the entire time I read it. (Those strawberry costumes killlled me. So darn cute.)

The colorization, the layout, the font, and especially the adorable illustrations… it’s ALL 5-star worthy! If you love Bird & Squirrel as much as I do, you’ll be so pumped to now discover Box Tales!

[Ryan]

When a young boy and his box eat all the strawberries in the house, they made a deal with Mom. If they can eat 10 lima beans each, she will buy more strawberries. Instead, these two take to planting their own strawberries so they’ll never have to eat lima beans again. This was a fun early graphic novel for grades 2 to 4. The illustrations are fun and charming and puts a smile on your face.

[Jenn Georges]

Very sweet graphic novel for young readers. It teaches patience and dedication. It also teaches kids about planting and home grown produce. Loved it! I recieved this book as an arc from the ALA conference. I would recommend this book for kids 5 and up. Excellent example of a younger graphic novel for primary school but can appeal to upper elementary as well.

[Stephanie Rivera]

This was a super cute graphic novel. The illustrations were adorable and the story was very easy to follow. I like how much information it gave about how to grow strawberries and how much patience the kids needed to wait for the reward of growing their own fruit.

Thanks to First Second and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Carrie]

This delightfully funny graphic novel is perfect for fans of Fox & Rabbit, Duck and Moose, or Pluto Rocket. Plus, kids will learn a little bit about gardening as a bonus. The adult in me really wants to know how Bea became best friends with a box, but I don't think this lack of backstory will bother kids in the slightest.

[Amanda Murphy]

I am so pleasantly surprised by this graphic novel! I have a black thumb. I am death to any living plant. It's real. But I think even I might be able to grow some strawberries after reading this book. And I didn't even feel like I was learning.

[Cathlina Bergman]

DNF. One of the protagonists is a box. A cardboard box. With zero explanation.

Moving on.

[Marian Dealy]

This is a super cute book with adorable characters. And a masterclass in growing strawberries. Highly recommend!!

[Melody]

OK book. More information on strawberry plants at the end of the book would have made it more interesting.

[Alyson]

Simple enough for younger elementary but still entertaining.

[Liz Benbow]

I am absolutely delighted to add this graphic novel to our elementary collection! The story is a total joy, following the spunky Beatrix and her literal "Box" friend as they try to grow a massive strawberry garden to avoid eating lima beans. It’s a wonderful teaching tool disguised as a fun adventure, showing kids the real-life patience and "trial and error" it takes to wait for plants to grow. The illustrations are bright and expressive, making the duo's frustrations and final success feel so relatable for young readers. My students are going to love the mix of humor, helpful gardening tips, and the adorable friendship between these two curious characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.