Times change.Cities may grow large.Summers may come and go.And people might grow old,but the one thing that alwaysremains the same is the desire f...
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reviews
Jul 30, 2011
Barbara
rated it: 
A boy hides a box filled with memorabilia, and then many years later, three children find it. They follow its clues and discover another place, a secret world perhaps, where the boy who hid the box frolics with other children. As the three join their new comrades, two more children find the clues. Other reviewers have noted the similarity to David Wiesner's Flotsam, which I would agree is there. I had to go back to the first illustration to make sure the boy on the pier was the same one who left
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Jun 13, 2011
Laura
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I read one of Barbara Lehman's other wordless books, Rainy Day, so I decided to read this one as well. Lehman effective uses illustrations, perspective, and framing to tell her story clearly. This particular books features a box hidden in a tall yellow building. The next few pages show the same building through perhaps 150 years; buildings grow, cars become modern, and industrial city springs up. Several boys find the secret box, which includes a map and enticing illustrations. They follow a
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Jun 18, 2011
Amy
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I usually enjoy this author/illustrator's books but this one was definitely an exception. It is a "wordless" picture book that "shows" an adventure that some children go on when they discover a treasure map hidden in the floor of their boarding school. They sneak out of their school, wander through a city, go through a sewer pipe and come out on the beach by a boardwalk. The directions lead them to a random, hidden room where there are a ton of children from several different
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May 13, 2011
Westerville
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"A story that requires the "reader" (here, viewer) to look carefully and even use a little map-reading and imagination. Lehman conveys a sense of place, the passage of time, building curiousity as the page turns. Love the mostly muted palette of blues, greens, yellows, tans, with accents of read. And the ending that is not quite an ending . . . leaving some other children on the path to explore." - Robin, Youth Services Librarian
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Jun 02, 2011
Kris
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I really like the idea of this wordless picture book. A boy hides a box (the cover of which looks a great deal like the cover of the book) filled with trinket treasures and a map in the attic of what looks like a boarding school. Years later, the box is found by three kids who use the map to sneak out and go to Seahorse Pier. I was a little surprised to find kids from the past still playing at the pier, and then suddenly to see two more kids discovering the box, but I think it would inspire repe
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Nov 09, 2011
Gwen the Librarian
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Barbara Lehman is a queen of modern wordless picturebooks. All of her books are wordless adventures through time and place, making connections between children of all kinds, from all times, in all places. The Secret Box runs even more threads through time than some of her other books, with three different groups of children sharing a secret box and a map. I love these because there is such a sense of mystery, really capitalizing on the childhood idea of truly finding a treasure or map that is
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Sep 15, 2011
Sarah
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The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman is a wordless picture book about a hidden treasure that leads a group of children on an across-town and -time adventure.
The book opens with children at a boarding school, or an orphanage (whatever the building is, it's up to interpretation), finding an old box under the floorboards. Inside are photographs, a map, tickets and a few other odds and ends. Working together, the children piece together the instructions that lead them across town to a beachs More...
The book opens with children at a boarding school, or an orphanage (whatever the building is, it's up to interpretation), finding an old box under the floorboards. Inside are photographs, a map, tickets and a few other odds and ends. Working together, the children piece together the instructions that lead them across town to a beachs More...
Mar 28, 2011
Tasha
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Lehman continues her wordless books with this treasure of a title. Years ago, during the times of steam trains and horse-drawn carriages, a boy hides a box under the floorboards of a house. Other buildings are built around that house, as the city grows. Cars and a modern train show that time has passed. Three children head to the high floor and discover the hidden box. In the box are directions to the Seahorse Pier. The children have to find the old landmarks that are almost hidden in the
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Aug 10, 2011
Joy
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This wordless picture book has so much to offer. The illustrations are lovingly detailed in a fresh, soft color palette. The passage of time from after the box is hidden shows the neighborhood surrounding the school changing and is a kind of mini history lesson. I must admit I was surprised by what awaited the boys when they followed the clues from the secret box, but it worked and opens up an avenue for many views and conversations. I am excited to check out more by this author/illustrator.
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Jan 21, 2012
Amy
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The concept of this book is unique. Kids find a box with artifacts that are very "time capsule" like. But without words, the book is confusing and difficult to follow. Students will not be able to initially identify the role of the boy until they meet the other kids in the story. This book took a lot of work to figure out.
Oct 13, 2011
Becky
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I didn't love this quite as much as Barbara Lehman's other books, but maybe that's just because it made me work a little harder! This wordless book requires the reader to fill in the gaps of the plot and passage of time, after discovering old maps and postcards in a secret box under the floorboards. Good for narrative skills.
Apr 06, 2011
Heidi
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A wordless book with very much to say in its illustrations. I found myself flipping back and forth repeatedly to follow the passage of the story. A neat idea with a fun "journey." A good choice for a lap-read or read-alone to get children to improve their literacy by telling the story in their own words.
Apr 27, 2011
Reader
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An equation:
A mystery box hidden in the upstairs of an orphanage.
+
A map leading to a secret enclave of children who live forever.
-
Words
=
The Secret Box
It may not be for every reader, but man does it tell an interesting story. Fans of Wiesner's Flotsam will love this. -T
A mystery box hidden in the upstairs of an orphanage.
+
A map leading to a secret enclave of children who live forever.
-
Words
=
The Secret Box
It may not be for every reader, but man does it tell an interesting story. Fans of Wiesner's Flotsam will love this. -T
Dec 13, 2011
Andreaiu
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The illustrations in this book are great, but even I was a little confused by this story and had to look at the book several times to come up with a plausible through-line for myself. This book is definitely one to be shared with a parent or other loved one.
Apr 27, 2011
Melissa
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This reminded me strongly of Flotsam by Wiesner, but not in a bad way, and also of the author's own Red Book. I think the author did a good job of providing enough visual clues to clarify the story, but it's definitely a school-age title. I think there are a couple of really delicious questions to talk about here!
Jan 16, 2012
Shelley
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This is utterly magical. Wordless story about children finding a secret box with treasure map in the attic of their school, left there decades before - they follow the map and are greeted by the children of the past. They rebury it and....
Apr 19, 2011
Stefani
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This wordless picture book tells the story of times changing, but children of any generation like to have fun! The detail and the story within the pictures is great. The size and intricacy lends itself to one-on-one or small group sharing.
Sep 07, 2011
Tricia
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I was lukewarm on this wordless book...it's a somewhat haunting time-travel book that reminds me just a bit too much of "Flotsam". My kids enjoyed it...and one of them "got" it while the other did not (nor did I, sadly).
Nov 27, 2011
Kendall
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Love this author and illustrator of new classics. This one is a true picture books for kids to figure out. It's beautifully done and a lot of fun! Same author as the Red Book, Trainstop and Museum Trip.
Aug 02, 2011
Donalyn
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The first time I read this, I was confused by the ending. Then, I realized that I hadn't looked at the illustrations well. I thought this was a beautiful piece of storytelling about adventure and our connections to the past and future.
Jul 29, 2011
Colby
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Loved this wordless picture book. First time I read it I flew through it, and got a little lost. This book reminded me that importance of slowing down and really reading the pictures.
Aug 27, 2011
Brenna
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another great wordless picture book from barbara lehman! Her books always evoke such a feeling of adventure and wonder and this book was no different. Highly recommended.
Nov 18, 2011
Beth
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This book is wordless yet shows all of the changes that can take place over time. A box is found and items are in the box. It is a mystery.
Jul 10, 2011
Shelli
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Cute idea for a wordless picture book of some children who come across a time capsule left many years ago when their town looked quit different.
Jun 21, 2011
Shannon
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Great wordless picture book. This book reminded me of David Weisner's Flotsam or Black & Blue by David MacCaulay. Disappointing ending, though.
Jun 07, 2011
stillme
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Reminded me of Burton's The Little House, and I think I could spend just as many hours in these illustrations as I did with the classic.
Sep 03, 2011
Jennifer
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An exciting adventure that begins with a hidden box. Fun across generations that will appeal to children of all ages, 5 to 85.
Jul 08, 2011
Jennifer
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A great wordless picture book--but I'm still not sure that these kids aren't being abducted...it's slightly unsettling...
Jan 24, 2012
Deanna
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This book seems a little hard to follow. I think it would be a difficult one, for kids on their own, to decipher.
Nov 09, 2011
Nicole
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The pictures are great! There are no words is this story. You get to tell the story by the pictures.
