The Round Box

by Lois Wickstrom, Francie Mion (Illustrator), Ada Konewki (Contributor)

The Round Box in Grandma's Closet is labeled FASCINATOR. Carrie looks inside. She sees a boat. The boat is a hat. Carrie puts it on. Suddenly her world rocks, as if she's on a boat at sea. Then things start moving in slow motion. The world sparkles. Carrie sees things in a way she never saw before.
What will Carrie do with this new fascination?

Genres: Childrens, Family

26 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2021

Reviews

[Lucinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a sweet and fun children's book! 'The Round Box' is the 2nd book in the Grandma's Closet series by Lois Wickstrom.
Everyone is busy and Carrie, looking for something to do, finds a box marked 'Fascinator' that her Grandma left behind when she moved across town. Carrie is indeed fascinated by the box and opens it to find an interesting hat. Putting it on, Carrie finds all sorts of things that might have been mundane before, but are fascinating now.
The story flows nicely and I like how some of the words are made more interesting by the use of a different font or graphic. It would be a good book to read with a young child as the illustrations are lovely too.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Round Box is the second fun children’s book in the Grandma's Closet series. Grandma has some exciting and unusual things in her boxes in her closet. I remember sneaking into the cupboard when young to play dress up with the things in my Nan’s closet and this book brings back those memories.
Lois writes stories that stir the imagination in young and old. When reading to my grandsons I love the way their little minds work as they add their own spin on things.
Carrie opens another box in her grandma’s closet and discovered a wonderous had that helped her feel not so sad that she was missing her grandma.
Grab a copy and read to loved ones as they will enjoy the adventure along with Carrie.

[Jenni · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Round Box is the second fun children’s book in the Grandma's Closet series. Grandma has some exciting and unusual things in her boxes in her closet. I remember sneaking into the cupboard when young to play dress up with the things in my Nan’s closet and this book brings back those memories.
Lois writes stories that stir the imagination in young and old. When reading to my grandsons I love the way their little minds work as they add their own spin on things.
Carrie opens another box in her grandma’s closet and discovered a wonderous had that helped her feel not so sad that she was missing her grandma.
Grab a copy and read to loved ones as they will enjoy the adventure along with Carrie.

[Lorralei Hoerner · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟

The Round Box is part of the Grandma's Closet Series and this story is fun, creative and imaginative. When Carrie is looking for something to do everyone around her seems busy. Grandma is not available to talk and her mom is not able to read her a story. What can Carrie do.....look in closet and see what boxes left behind. A suprise comes about within the "Facinator" box...but what can it be? It is an adventure for sure.

This is a fun story for the littles all the way to the young at heart. The story is wonderful and our family always enjoy's Lois' books.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Round Box" by Lois Wickstrom is a charming and imaginative children's book that explores the power of imagination and the wonders it can bring. In this particular story, young Carrie discovers a round box labeled "FASCINATOR" in her grandmother's closet, only to find a fascinating surprise inside.

I have read many of Lois Wickstrom's books, and she does a fantastic job of capturing the sense of wonder and awe that can be experienced during imaginative play. The idea of a simple hat transforming Carrie's perception of the world is both creative and captivating. Young readers will likely be inspired to explore the power of their own imaginations, encouraged to think outside the box, and find ways to see the world through a different lens.

Throughout the story, there is a delightful sense of whimsy and exploration. Lois Wickstrom's descriptive language invites readers to truly immerse themselves in Carrie's imaginative journey. The illustrations are also vibrant and engaging, enhancing the magic and playfulness of the narrative.

[Tara Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Round Box is Book Two in the Grandma’s Closet Series. It is a children’s picture book full of fun, whimsy, magic, and adventure. The beautiful illustrations are bright, colorful, and really bring the story to life. The story centers around a young girl named Carrie who is bored and seeking something fun to do. She remembers boxes in her grandma’s closet and goes to look because they are always interesting. When she finds a round box named the Fascinator, she opens it up and discovers a boat inside. When Carrie looks more closely at the boat, she discovers it is a hat and decides to wear it. Suddenly, Carrie feels like she is on a boat, and everything looks different. I loved how the act of putting on one hat changed Carrie’s entire outlook and made everything around her seem magical and fun. A great read for kids to learn how to use their imagination and think creatively.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carrie's Grandma has moved across town but she left four boxes in Carrie's house labeled "KEEP". Anytime Carrie is missing her Grandma, she'll go looking through those boxes. Each box she picked up felt like another but she finally decided upon one. When she opened it, there was a fascinator that resembled a ship. Once she put it on, she was on an adventure!

These books are great and should be in every library! This is a great opportunity to talk with a youngin' about what a fascinator is. Honestly, I hadn't heard that term until I became more interested in "royal life" and started watching shows and reading about them. This is also a sweet story about the love and influence of a grandparent.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Round Box is part of the Grandma's Closet series of children's books. They don't have to be read in order, each is its own book with the same characters. Carrie's grandma used to live with them, but moved across town. She left behind some things, which are stored in a closet. Carrie is looking for things to do, and sneaks in to search through some of the boxes. The item she removes is quite fascinating. Its a little bit magical, and makes Carrie's room do some weird things. While I felt the book was good and magical, my son said it doesn't make sense. He is almost 8 and a little too practical for kid books- so for this reason, I recommend it for a slightly younger audience. The illustrations are colorful and fun. There are certain action words with different font, which was fun.

[Dawn Daughenbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars
The Round Box (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom

The Round Box is the second book in the Grandma’s Closet Series and is a cute children’s book that children of any age will enjoy. My son loved this book so much we’ve read it several times already and I foresee many more times in the near future. We are huge fans of this author and this one my son says is his favorite book in the whole world. He loved the mystery behind the hat shaped like a boat . This cute little story is packed with imagination, a bit of drama and a whole lot of adventure. Find out what happens when Carrie finds a box in Grandma’s Closet labeled FASCINATOR and opens it to find a hat that looks like a boat. I highly recommend reading this book and we look forward to reading more from this Author.

[Tausha Treadway · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Round Box (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom. I love this author so I was excited to read the 2nd installment in Grandma's Closet series. Its the continuing story of Carrie who is missing her Grandma because she had lived with them but now she has moved across town. When she can Carrie sneaks into the closet where some of her Grandma's things are stored. It makes her feel closer to her Grandma. In this box she finds a hat, a fascinator and it looked like a ship. With this hat Carrie imagines all kinds of adventures and feels even closer to her Grandma. All of these books are so fun and so full of adventure. I love that they urge kids to use their imagination while also teaching lesson along the way. This book would make a great gift for the youngster in your life!

[Shannen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our entire household loves every book I bring home by this author, and this one is no different! Both of my kiddos are always excited when we open a story to see where it takes us, and we went on a really cool journey this time around. I enjoy how some of the words are in different fonts, so they feel different. The illustrations are also cute and fitting. Carrie misses her grandma and can’t seem to find anything interesting to do. Nothing seems fun throughout the entire house. Once she finds a box that’s a little bit different, everything changes! This sparked our imaginations so much that we made our own ‘Fascinators’ to play along. I highly recommend picking this up and sharing with the young ones in your family or at school!

[Shelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! This is part of the Grandma’s Closet series. Carrie is looking for something fun to do and can’t find anyone to do it with. She remembers the boxes that Grandma left. It’s amazing what a round box marked with Fascinator can do for your imagination. I find the way that the author highlights the action words to point out the movements. Carrie is having fun just looking for fun. The way the author also points out the adjectives like different and unusual shows that using your imagination is okay. Being creative is a good thing. This is a wonderful book and my family always looks forward to new ones from this author. Reading and fun go together so well.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois Wickstrom proves her storytelling abilities once more with "The Round Box." This captivating tale embarks readers on a vivid adventure that truly springs to life with every page turned. A standout feature is the clever use of fonts, enhancing the storytelling experience. Beyond being a delightful read-aloud, it serves as a vocabulary builder, skillfully weaving words into a tapestry of imagination. "The Round Box" is a testament to the boundless possibilities of one's mind. Grandmother's Fascinator hat becomes the whimsical guide, steering readers towards the joyous realms of fun within our own world. A great addition to a book collection!

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a lovely children’s story that will definitely spark some imagination. Carrie certainly got more than she bargained for when she tried on her Grandmothers fascinator! The magic begins the moment she places it on her head. One thing I really love with the witing in this book is the way that font changes for the lovely descriptive words the author uses – this could provide quite a few talking points for children when talking about how to improve sentences by adding these wonderful words.
This is a really lovely story and one that will definitely create some imaginative thinking from the children reading it.

[Kerry Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

As usual, as soon as we saw a new book by this author, the whole family was excited for story time. This book really explores what it is like to use your imagination and it is definitely one that got all of ours going! It was such a fun story right from the start, and my two kids were fascinated with the idea of being transported to a boat.
The illustrations in the book were colourful and a perfect fit for the story being told. We marveled at them just as much as we read the book (which has been multiple times!) and I am sure we will do the same when we read the book again. This is a brilliant and fun story that is worth reading with your family.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy reading stories from this author. She always does a great job of writing in a way that is easy for young children to follow and enjoy. In this story we see Carrie is missing her grandmother and she just can’t find anything fun to do while she is feeling sad. She remembers that her Grandma left some boxes at the house and she goes exploring. I love how the author encourages children to use their imaginations in her stories and this one doesn’t disappoint. I think every child should have a box labeled FASCINATOR in their house. I will always recommend any book by this author; she writes in such a fun and imaginative voice that it’s always a joy to read.

[Roxsanne Lesieur · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carrie is a young woman who is in her room and is a bit bored, however, when she goes to see if either her mum, dad, or grandma are free, they are all busy.

This is when she finds a round box in her closet among some other boxes belonging to her Grandma labelled FASCINATOR,, but when she opens the box, she pulls out a small boat.

Soon Carrie realises that the boat is a hat and when she puts it on, everything changes, it feels like she is at sea and things don't look the same as they did before, but what has happened and what will Carrie do with this newfound information?

This is a lovely story with plenty of imagination and a fascinating fascinator.

[Book Magic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute tale about a little girl who is bored and misses her grandma who moved. So, in search of something to do to make herself feel happy, Carrie looks through the stuff grandma left behind. At the bottom of the closet she finds a round hat box labeled fascinator, and this is where her fun adventure begins, using her imagination as the key.

I love the cover art and wish the inside art was more like that. Although the illustrations do flow with the story, I just found the cover art more aesthetically pleasing. This is a fun book about the power of imagination and all the places your imagination can take you.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute story about using your imagination and I think kids would like it. I also like the idea that Wickstrom is weaving in on how to deal with missing people when we can't be near them (I always love how she is working in multiple levels of lessons in her books). I feel that the illustrations are a little lackluster with this series. I normally gush over the artwork, but it's different even from the cover of the book. I love Wickstrom's work and recommend these books for a good bedtime read with your littles.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author has done it again. Her Fascinating story will open up the child's imagination. This children's story had piqued my interest. The characters are more true to today's families. I feel that makes this story a must have. So many open conversations with the little ones. This author has presented new words as well giving some actions to play out. What a fun story to read. I hope your children enjoy this short story, as much as mine did. I will be looking for more stories from this author.

[Caralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read many books by this author and this is yet another one that is a good children's book. This author does suck an amazing job of bringing learning to kids with her creative stories. I really wish that my children were young enough to be able to enjoy these books. The author is able to bring subjects to kids in a creative learning way that makes things fun. I really like the characters that the author has developed. I definitely would recommend these books to anyone with younger children.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Always enjoy reading these stories by author Lois Wickstrom. She is quickly becoming my favorite go to author for great kids books. Her books are always so interesting and always keep the little ones intrigued when I'm reading to them. We all love all the cool activities and more that's included with most books, and in the other it helps teach action words with I also love🥰🥰 and omg her grandmother always has the coolest stuff lmao. I can't wait to see what other Fascinating things she has🥰

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Lois Wickstrom's stories. They've quickly become a favorite for me to recommend to my educator friends. Her quirky stories, full of whimsy and magic, and brightly illustrated pages. Such a great thing to have in every classroom library. The Round Box is just another one of the many stories I've added to my collection I'm building for my nephew. He loves when I read him the stories (he's almost 4) and I'm hoping that one day, he will enjoy reading them on his own.

Review By
Manda Kelly

[Anna Hirsch]

The Round Box (Grandma’s Closet) by Lois Wickstrom
4 Stars

Carrie is bored and is looking for something to do but everyone is busy. She finds a box in Grandma’s closet with a hat shaped as a boat. It’s called a fascinator. She puts it on and suddenly the world sparkles and starts moving in slow motion. It is quite an adventure. This is an imaginative story great for the little ones. It is a fun book to read and will allow your child’s imagination to run wild.

[Phylis Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have three grandchildren and am always searching for books that they will like. I also sometimes babysit the younger children in our neighborhood.

I read this book and think that the little ones would love to read this or have it read to them anytime. This was a quick read and would be nice before bed or maybe as a storytime book to read at the library.

Check it out. I think your children will enjoy it.

[Melissa Saxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poor Carrie is bored and she is very sad as her grandma moved out of her house and she misses her dearly.
Going through closets she finds a round box and inside a very special gift she finds happy feelings and lots of fun using her imagination.
Another great story by this author for children with fun illustrations and even some font that was different making words pop off the page which my 5 year old immediately noticed. Great fun for kids ages 3 to 7.

[Ayla Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascination in everyday life. Lois Wickstrom’s greatest talent is bringing wonder to an everyday thing, such as bouncing a ball but seeing it in a new way. I loved this book and so did my seven-year-old because it showed him that everything in the world can be fascinating. All you must do is look at it in a new way.

[Sarah King · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another adorable story by Wickstrom, like all the others I have gifted to my neice and nephew. They really enjoyed the imigatry that was painted when we were reading. I appreciate Wickstrom's ability to teach life lessons at a level that is understandable to the kids. I would recommend this book.

[Brandy L Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how this book includes technology that we use to communicate with each other. This cute story also includes normal stuff kids do when they're bored. Some of the text is in different font to engage the reader into the story. The illustrations are nice and with colors that are easy on the eyes. There's just something about going through Grandma's stuff as a kid to make the day interesting!

[Anantha Rusum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely story about a little girl who is missing her Grandma. Grand ma has moved across town and the little girl is missing her grand ma. She is very sad, nothing around her pleases her. Then she opens her Grand ma’s closet and finds a fascinator hat. The girl wears the hat and all her imagination comes alive. It’s a very heartwarming story, good for a bed time read.