Gift & Box

by Ellen Mayer, Brizida Magro (Illustrator)

Follow the adventures of Gift and Box as they travel from Grandma's house to Sofia's front door!

Gift and Box are a package, dropped off with love from Grandma at the local post office. But being a package together on a long postal voyage is not always easy. There are ships to board, oceans to cross and bumpy truck rides! Can Gift and Box arrive in one piece?

Come along for the ride on this delightful journey of friendship that showcases the wonder of receiving a gift by mail, and the love both a grandma and child feel as they’re connected by a simple package from far away.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Storytime, Family, Friendship, Fiction, Humor

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 10, 2023

Reviews

[James Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Auspicious that this book arrived on the same weekend as Jeff Bezos's wedding.

That being said, this is indeed a book about a gift (aptly named Gift) AND a box (aptly named Box). The dynamic between the 2 was interesting. One could tell that Gift had never really had to endure much in her life and she complained about everything, not even recognizing her privilege as she complained to Box, who actually had to endure the worst of their traveling. And endure he did, nary a complaint out of his mouth. Unfortunately, Gift was ripped apart at the end (and may have had her consciousness transferred into a toy giraffe????) so she never had an opportunity to properly thank Box for his efforts to protect her.

Overall I found this book to be a good representation of the poor way that packages are treated and I hope this influences future improvements in safe package handling.

Actual Review: Cute and sweet story. I enjoyed the art.

[HeatherREADS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this one aloud to a first grader, holding the book upside down so that they could see the pictures. Despite those circumstances it was a good, no great, book. It’s a mystery, an adventure, and a love story. A gift is sealed in. Box, and sent off in the mail. The adventures follow. Great illustrations. Brizida Margo is the illustrator. This book is engaging and fun. Good til the last page.

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story presents two philosophical conundrums for nascent philosophers. First, the ontological problem of personifying both the gift and the box, pictured as two sets of eyes peering at the reader. Second, the sudden “death on arrival” of gift and box: Upon opening, the gift is no longer a gift, nor the box a box after being repackaged. Quite the Philosophical Box!

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a clever idea for a picture book! Having received many packages through UPS, USPS, and FedEx, some arriving in pristine condition and others rather battered, I could certainly relate to the many challenges involved in shipping anything, especially as described here through the personified perspective on Gift and Box. The grandmother who carefully packs up a gift for her granddaughter Sofia probably has no idea what all the package will go through on its way to its intended destination. The text and lively illustrations ably depict the journey. While Sofia is delighted with her gift, she also repurposes the box. While the ending fell a little flat for me, it reminded me of how much my cats prefer empty boxes and bags to the expensive cat toys that I buy for them. The artwork, which consists of images created with printmaking inks, crayons, stamps that were handmade, and paper collage, which were then assembled digitally, is worth a second look, almost taking on a life of its own. Readers will also want to check out the colorful endpapers set against a bright yellow background. This one is fun to read because it effectively captures the personalities of Gift and Box.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuteness overload alert! This little book certainly caught my attention with its bright red cover and engaging illustrations of 'Gift' and 'Box.' We are treated inside to the journey of a package from grandma's house to her granddaughter Sofia's apartment far away. As a Grammy who has sent many a package, I could most certainly relate to this story. While our two stars are bonding on their journey, I'll be the grandma is watching her tracking just like I do. 😉 Once Gift and Box reach their destination they may be separated, but both still are given much love. One of my favorite illustrations shows Sofia's black cat sitting in the empty box. And when the cat is done, Sofia finds an imaginative way to repurpose Box, too. This package turns out to be so much more than just a package!

[Andrea W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful look at sending love from far away as we take a postal trip with gift & box all the way from grandma to grandchild. The broad, bright artwork dazzles and transports us right along with the package in both time and place. Once they’ve arrived, I especially loved seeing gift & box getting to have one last adventure, reminiscent of so many similar adventures at our house.

A perfect introduction for children to learning about logistics and the postal system and a wonderful reminder to all of the joys of friendship and connecting with one another even over vast distances.

We have read and re-read this so many times at bedtime it’s almost memorized. It has a special place on our little one’s bookshelves and comes down at their request for bedtime all the time.

[Kate M. Colby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack received this book from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library and I will never forget reading it. I read it to him yesterday afternoon, and he listened to the story, but didn’t seem especially excited about it. When I finished, I turned back to the title page and was looking at the parent tips and started talking to him about the book. He then reached out and pointed to each letter in gift, sounding it out and reading it as the word gift. Then, he told me point blank: “Letters make words.”

It was the first time he read a word on his own. You could see the joy and the lightbulb moment in his face. I was so proud and was smiling and laughing and praising him and I think I kind of scared him, but it was awesome.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The box and the gift meet when an adult meshes them together. Readers then journey with them from post office to boat to truck to delivery. Mayer uses simple text to share their connection. When they reach the end of their journey, both feel they will be parted but the recipient keeps box and uses both to play. The illustrations capture the travel and introduce young readers to the shipping process.

[Le Maistre Chat · Rating 3 out of 5]

This arrived for my 2 1/2 year old from the Imagination Library. She asked for it 5 or 6 times in a row.
Not a favorite for Dad to read. The ending was fairly sweet but predictable, and the process was weird. Why would a grandma buy a gift locally, then take it to a US Post Office, where it rides a container ship to a port, then trucks... and is delivered in the United States? I don't think the US Post Office sends domestic packages through the Panama Canal...

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Ellen Mayer's book, a gift and box actually are the names of the two main characters. The reader learns how Gift and Box work together to get the package to its right destination. Once they reach their new owner, Gift and Box worry about what will happen next. Mayer adds a little twist at the end to show that both are still valued.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful book that follows the journey of the well-differentiated characters of Gift and Box after Grandma mails them. Funny, full of transportation details, and warmth. The illustrations are bright and appealing. This story about a gift's travels and eventual delivery to a very pleased granddaughter seems like a perfect gift for little ones.

[Kiera Beddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is cutest book in the world and I think it would be the perfect Christmas book to send in the mail to your loved ones. It follows Gift and Box as they become a Package from Grandma and wend their way to the intended recipient. It's a great metaphor for traveling with littles, and it's so well written and the visuals are so fun.

[Laura Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific gift book! Don’t miss this one! Wonderful, engrossing story with a bit of a surprise ending. Beautiful illustrations. Great gift for birthdays or holidays. Especially interesting to kids who are fascinated with the postal service and how packages travel. Highly recommend!

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is going to be a must do book with a community heroes (and postal workers storytime). I love how gift and box are friends and how this book highlights that boxes are just as loved the package inside. (Seriously, anyone can see that kids prefer boxes to the gift on occasion ;) )

[Danielle Hammelef · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a clever idea to personify a gift and a box who must work together to make a new thing. I enjoyed their journey together and the delight they brought to the recipient. I also liked the tip to recycling and repurposing of resources.

[Leticia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a super cute idea for the story, and really cute illustrations, but I wasn't thrilled with the text and the way it was written. We still loved it though. We received this from Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which made it extra fun because it came in the mail itself!

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really cute about how a gift and a box travel together from Grandmother to Granddaughter. Then, both the gift and the box are brought back together, after the gift was received, and used at the end for imaginative play to visit Grandma.

[Shannon]

A very unique idea. I like this one a lot--one of my favorites we have received from Imagination Library. The art style and the story pair together very well and my daughter loves spotting when the giraffe first pops out and asking lots of questions about how the mail service works.

[Raven Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well that was delightful, so charming!

[Michele Knott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Told from the perspective of a gift and the box it is being sent in - it's cute.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a number of picture books about all the things a kid's imagination can turn a box into. But this one talks about what a box does *before* it becomes available to a child.

[Carol Gordon Ekster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a clever fun and well written book with adorable illustrations. This is a fabulous book for grandmas to give, and to give to little ones anytime of year.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute.

[KMitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful story, the illustrations really add to it

[Awjtf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story!

[Lora Poucher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illustrations were busy but not overly so. Great story about a box and gift and their journey to a little girl, who in the fashion of many kids, discovers the gift and the box both make great fun.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book! The illustrations dazzled my imagination. The story line was sweet and endearing.

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story about a gift 🎁 and a box 📦

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found in L4L Volume 111.

[Terresa Wellborn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Themes: boxes
Ages: 2nd-3rd grade
Pub year: 2023