The Chalk Box Kid

by Clyde Robert Bulla, Thomas B. Allen (Illustrator)

A new neighborhood. A new school. A lonely birthday. Life isn’t easy for nine-year-old Gregory. Then he finds an abandoned chalk factory behind his house. It’s a secret place, just for him! Now he can draw anything he imagines on the dark brick walls. What amazing thing will Gregory draw first?

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Art, School, Chapter Books, 2nd Grade

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Born to be a Writer
Almost as far back as he can remember, Clyde Robert Bulla wanted to write. Born on a farm in a small town in Missouri, Mr. Bulla's first school was a one-room country schoolhouse. One day his teacher asked each first grade student what he or she would do with a thousand dollars. Young Clyde answered that he would buy a table. His classmates laughed heartily, and his teacher was puzzled. “What I really meant,” says Mr. Bulla, “is a desk or other flat surface on which to write my stories!”

First Stories
Mr. Bulla's first piece of writing was titled, “How Planets Were Born.” The ambitious opening sentence was, “One night old Mother Moon had a million babies.” All through school, Mr. Bulla continued to write stories mostly, but plays and poetry, too. After years of gathering editor's rejection slips, Mr. Bulla sold a magazine story, then several more. Soon after, Mr. Bulla wrote a novel and a publisher accepted it.

The Difficult Years
In the excitement of publishing a novel, Mr. Bulla wrote two more books. Unfortunately, no one wanted to publish them. His luck took a turn for the worse when the publisher of his first book went bankrupt. For several years, he worked at a local weekly newspaper where he struggled with linotype, kept books, collected bills, and wrote a weekly column.

Success!
A couple of Mr. Bulla's weekly columns caught the attention of a well-known author and illustrator of children's books. She wrote to Mr. Bulla, suggesting that he try writing a children's book. He immediately sent her a manuscript for a children's book he'd written a year before. Within one week, an editor of a New York publisher read the manuscript,and it was accepted. The book was The Donkey Cart, published in 1946. Since then, Mr. Bulla has written over twenty books for children, as well as the music for several children's song books.

About The Chalk Box Kid
“When I was young,” explains Mr. Bulla, “I sometimes found it hard to cope in new surroundings, and I was apt to get off on the wrong foot. This is the story of a boy who got off on the wrong foot in a new school and how he tried to cope.” In describing the chalk garden, Mr. Bulla says, “I gave Gregory something I've always wished for: a big, blank wall that I could cover with my own drawings.”

Reviews

[Ashlee G]

The Chalk Box Kid is a short story so there isn't much to say. This is a story about a kid named Gregory. Gregory loves to draw. It all started off by him moving to a new house with his mom and dad. It was Gregory's birthday. For Gregory's birthday, his parents made him his own room. He loved it more than anything because he could hang up his drawings and have some privacy. Until one day when his Uncle Max moved in. Gregory had to share his room with Uncle Max. Gregory hated Uncle Max because he was so self-centered and rude. One day Gregory walked into his room and all of his pictures were covered by Uncle Max's posters, he wouldn't take them down. So, Gregory had to find another place and that's where he found a burned down building that had boxes of chalk everywhere. He had begun a garden drawn out of chalk because the whole class was making their own little gardens. Gregory couldn't plant a garden because where he lived there was no grass, everything was concrete. He became "The Chalk Boy Kid". Gregory's life turned around when the word got out about the chalkboard garden. This book was a great story made me think that you should show your talents because it could change your life in some way!

[Davy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid and spare (and somewhat gothically illustrated) children's story that reads like a Raymond Carver short story. It feels true and the pay-off at the end feels genuine. It concerns a boy who works out his inner turmoil over his family's recent move by creating a garden mural in an abandoned chalk factory behind his house. What really gives the book its refreshing uniqueness is the bleak, unpatronizing language (though there are a few unfortunate exclamation points) and the fact that the cause for Gregory's eventual triumph was a private creation, never meant for exhibition. This absence of competitiveness links the story in my mind to Gary Paulsen's wonderful novel, The Island, and sets it apart from the masses.

[Linda Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chalk Box Kid is story of one nine year old boy whose life has been upturned and uprooted through circumstances beyond his control. His family must move which means a new school and making new friends. This is a difficult transition for anyone; but for a child it can be very lonely and devastating. The story ties together feelings of uncertainty, loneliness and despair as we are not only aware of what is going on; but also Gregory’s own private thoughts.

Gregory is miserable so he turns to his art and drawings for escape and coping with his new life. There is a glimmer of a friendship that illuminates the story bringing it to a heart warming climatic ending. The story embraces fear, change, friendship and bullying making it a perfect way to discuss all of these issues, behavior and feelings.

The Chalk Box Kid is a quick read for a third grader.

Parental Note: Recommend for 3rd and 4th graders either at home or even as a class assignment.

[Josiah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chalk Box Kid may be my favorite of Clyde Robert Bulla's many heartwarming stories. I grew to deeply love nine-year-old Gregory in these few pages. Not everyone in his life likes or respects him, and when he gets his own bedroom for the first time it is taken over by his uncle Max, who temporarily moves in. Gregory doesn't have a space of his own to create beautiful art, but he finds a way to do so anyway, and it sustains his spirit until others realize how special he is. An artist's imagination is a blessing. Clyde Robert Bulla's understated writing style is in peak form here, and Thomas B. Allen's drawings are extraordinary. It is with great affection that I recommend this book.

[Shelby Troutman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book tells the story of Gregory's transition into a new school. During the move his family does not seem to be supportive. We are led to believe that he lives a lonely life. As school begins he is treated rudely. It isn't until he finds a burned building behind his new home that he begins to adjust to his new surroundings. He used the new building to make an urban garden by drawing on the black walls. This modern day garden helps him become noticed by not only his teachers and classmates but by his family as well. This book helps to show that a little imagination can be a good thing. Gregory's imagination helped him find new friends as well as gain his family's support.

[Nupur · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter is almost 6 and I proposed that we start a "Lila Mama Book Club" and start reading chapter books together. She changed the name to "love club" so we could include art and board games in our activities. Works for me!

We debuted the love club with this sweet book- written in spare language, with a few black and white illustrations. It is a heart warming story about a nine year old boy who is going through some life challenges but manages to find a place of his own. I loved seeing how an observant and sensitive teacher can play such an important role in a child's life.

[Rhiannon's Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Gregory moves to a new town, he struggles to feel accepted by his new home and classmates. Even his passion, drawing, is being pushed aside with this new life. When a school presentation inspires a secret art project, could Gregory have the chance to show this new community who he is? This simple yet powerful story shows the struggles of fitting in at a new school, and the difference supportive adults can make in a child’s life.

CHAPTER BOOK: AGES 5-7

[Julia Coultas · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was my favorite book growing up it is very well written and very interested in 10/10

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because it was easy to read and I thought the idea was something I haven't read about before.
The book starts with Gregory at his aunt's house on his birthday because his parents are busy moving into their new house. His dad lost his job and got a new one, so they had to move. Later that night Gregory goes to his new house and sees the best birthday present, his own room! The next morning he paints pictures and hangs them up in his room. Gregory likes to paint and his Uncle Max calls him the Paintbrush Kid. Gregory doesn't like his Uncle Max because he thinks he is the only important one. Also Max is now moving into his room! Max covered all of Gregory's pictures up with his posters. Gregory started a new school and wasn't making a lot of friends, except for Ivy! She is quiet and loves to draw and paint as well. One day in class Mr. Hiller, a gardener, came to talk about all the different things that could be in a garden. This gave Gregory the idea that he wanted a garden too, but at his house there is no where for a garden because there is tooo much concrete. One day Gregory was exploring and how a burned building with three walls that were black and that it used to be a chalk factory. Luckily there was still some chalk let over from the fire. This was Gregory's own place! He started to draw with chalk his own garden. At school Gregory was talking about his garden and what was in it; one boy in the class wanted to see this...after school Gregory was followed back home and a group of classmates looked at his garden and said it was nothing! But there was one person that actually looked and that was Ivy! The next day at school Ivy gave Gregory her case that she won from her artwork. Gregory's teacher wanted to see this garden, so after school she went with the art teacher to look at his garden. When they saw it...they were taken aback. To them it was amazing and things started to change for Gregory. His classmates were being nicer to him and even Ivy came with her little brother to play with Gregory in the burned building.
I think that this book would be good to read one on one with students or have them independently read the novel. This book could lead into a discussion about vegetables and how to grow them.
The cover of the book was simply drawn which keeps the theme throughout the book. I like how Gregory was front and center on the cover in color but everything else was done in dark tones. Also I believe that the students would wonder why this boy is sad and want to read the book to find out, having emotion on the cover is a great idea! I think that the illustrations in the book helped to visualize the garden and how impressive it was. Even though the illustrations were in black and white, the detail in the pencil drawings helped to enhance the story. The illustrations were almost sketched which was creative and drew attention to the illustrations.
I would have this book be read independently throughout the whole class. Then there would be a discussion afterwards about the book.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read the entire book in about 20 minutes last Saturday...has a very similar writing style and feel as "The 100 Dresses". Sweet story, sweet premise...nothing remarkable. I need a really remarkable book right now...it has been a long time since I've read one!

[RaeLene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning reader: A great story about a boy who finds a place of his own where he can make his own garden.

[Acton]

This is a book about a young boy who uses his creativity to make a garden bloom in a most unusual way.

[Taylor Rench · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning of this book, we meet a little boy name Gregory, who is turning 9. He and his parents are moving, but his parents have to finish moving on his birthday. Right before his birthday ends, they go to the house and Gregory sees that he has his own room, making it the best birthday ever. The next morning, Uncle Max moves in and Gregory gets angry and tries to open the gate in the back of the house. He does and finds a building that has been burnt and abandoned. He finds chalk there and after having a man from a nursery come in and talk to his new class about plants and gardens, Gregory decides to draw his own garden since he cannot plant a real one. By the end of the book, Gregory makes new friends at his school, and Mr. Hiller takes a picture of Gregory's garden to hang in the nursery. The cover of this book is colorful and shows a little boy drawing flowers. throughout the book, there are illustrations that are done with a white crayon, pastel, or chalk, on a black background. The illustrations help the readers to imagine what the author is talking about in the text. I would use this book in my classroom to talk about respecting our peers and making sure that we give new students a chance to become our friends.

[Shay · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Chalk Box Kid by Clyde Robert Bulla
I thought this book was okay. The book fits well with the “easy to read” category. I don’t see a lot of plot development involved. This book is about a 9year old boy named Gregory. Gregory and his parents are moving, on his birthday. Which sucks but when they go to the house and Gregory sees that he has his own room, it makes up for the rough start. The next morning, Uncle Max moves in and Gregory gets angry, storms out and tries to open the gate in the back of the house. He finds a building that has been burnt and abandoned. Soon he finds chalk there and after having a man from a nursery come in and talk to his new class about plants and gardens, Gregory decides to draw his own garden. At first he didn’t have any friends but after his mural friends and teachers quickly came around. The Illustrations do consist of a darker tone, not as detailed but still engaging. I think the book is a good read for younger kids because it covers simple themes like friendships and new beginnings. Recommend for ages 5-8

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Chalk Box Kid (1987) by Clyde Robert Bulla, is a tender story about a boy named Gregory who moves into a new house but has to share his room with his unemployed, television-watching uncle, who starts on the wrong side of things in his new school, a likes a girl who is also into art. When a man from a local nursery comes and teaches about plants and seeds and things, Gregory is sad because he doesn't have a place to start his own garden, at least not a conventional garden. He stays by himself in a burned house next door and discovers that it used to be a chalk factory. With all the walls blackened by the fire and boxes of chalk, Gregory decided to create his own garden, giving him a coping mechanism through his talent in which to express himself. While I did enjoy it, I felt that it was too short (I know, I'm usually complaining when things are too long), but really, this book could have been longer and thereby been perfect. It just felt a little rushed and the ending felt sudden. My rating - 4/5

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1987. I was nine years old. (Yes, I know, I'm dating myself...) And I'm pretty sure I read this when it was brand new. I have vivid memories of the book, the boy drawing the chalk garden and winning a prize and adulation as a result. So imagine my surprise when, as an adult, I pick up the book again and find that there is SO MUCH MORE that I didn't remember at all! I mean, the book isn't about the garden, really. Or the chalk. And while the burned out factory stuck in my mind, the fact that the kid had moved, was lonely, and was dealing with bullying didn't ring a bell at all! Isn't it funny what sticks in a child's brain?

As an adult, I have a very different perspective on this book, but I still found it to be quite wonderful. Deeper and richer (but much easier to read!) that I remembered, and well worth reading even today. Highly recommended.

Content Advisory: bullying (mild)

[Catherine Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Chalk Box Kid" by Clyde Bulla is a endearing book that incorporates the power of determination, creativity, and art. This easy to read story revolves around Gregory, a young boy who has recently moved to a new neighborhood. Gregory faces several challenges, including the turmoil of his parents' separation and the need to adjust to a new school and community. His feelings of loneliness and insecurity are overwhelming. Then he finds a magical abandoned chalk factory behind his house. This weaves in the transformative power or art and self expression as therapy. The book also benefits from the lovely and imaginative illustrations by Thomas B. Allen. The visual elements enhance the story's impact, helping readers to better envision Gregory's creativity and the transformation of the once desolate walls. This book is great for all ages that need a slow start into reading.

[Lisa Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

A sad, yet sweet story of a young boy whose family has to move to a much smaller place in a different part of town. At first, he is excited because he gets to have his own room, but when his uncle moves in, that even gets taken away. Soon, his only refuge is an old burned out building behind where they live. He begins to create his own little world by drawing on the walls with chalk that he found there, and it is through this, that he finally finds a way to make a place for himself in this new place and school.

It was a nice story, but it was very slow for my son. It was on the suggested read-aloud list from his school, and it was not really geared toward kindergarten age. He still liked it, but I think he was bored.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story can be sad but also is very hopeful for children, especially for those who are going through a hard time and feeling lonely. This book is based on a boy who moves to a new city and a new school and isn't making friends very easily. For his birthday, his parents give him his own room which he is so excited about because he finally has privacy and can draw all the time. However, his uncle comes to visit and covers up all his drawings with posters. The boy is upset about this but ends up finding an abandoned chalk house where he can draw all he wants. It's very inspiring and encourages creativity to young readers. I also love the illustrations because they are kid-like and easy to understand with vibrant colors.

[Mendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chalk Box Kid is a great first read book for children. It tells the story of forgotten 9 year old Greg who was just moved to a new town, and school. To make it worse, his family has forgotten his birthday, and barely notices him. Feeling all alone, he discovers a an abandoned building behind his house that used to be an old chalk factory. There, he finally has a place to escape from it all. He let's his imagination run wild, and begins to draw amazing things from chalk. I love this book, because I believe many students can relate to Greg. I'd recommend this book for many 4th and 5th grade students. The illustrator does a great job of capturing these chalk images throughout the book.

[Jared Kling · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells a story of a boy who has just recently moved with his family and how he finds new ways of enjoying his new home. (Without trying to give anything away) Gregory does not have much support from his family during the move, it seems he is almost alone. This books illustrations are almost gothic with dark deep colors, that give it a sad feel to the boom. All in all I enjoyed the boom and think this would be a great easy read for a student moving into a new school or maybe even just a student that is intimidated by “longer” books. Good book would recommend.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gregory just moved and is new to his school. He’s not sure if the other kids will like him or not. While lonely, Gregory wanders, and finds a burnt out building behind his house, which becomes his quiet place. One day in class, Mr. Hiller, the local nursery owner, comes to Gregory’s class to talk about plants. This gives Gregory an idea! A box of chalk helps Gregory earn his place in his new town.

This book was a quick read, one that I enjoyed reading aloud to my young son. However, many things in this book seem outdated. A cute story, but kids may have questions!!

[Kelly Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Chalk Box Kid
(children's literature, friendship, bullying, drawing, birthday, moving, family)

The Chalk Box Kid is one of the first children's books I use in my classroom when transitioning my students from reading picture books to chapter books. The chapters are short. The plot holds my students' attention and they can relate to Gregory, the main character.

Best for early readers who are ready to try reading chapter books for the first time. Whole group, small group, and independent reading.

Kelly Wilson
Teacher / Blogger
www.kellysclassroomonline.com

[Brianna Allman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The storyline of this book is one that several students could probably relate to. Gregory has just moved to a new town and is getting bullied at school. He discovers the abandoned building close to his house and discovers that chalk used to be made their. One day in class, a gardener comes to talk about gardens and plants at his school. Gregory has concrete around his house so he can't build a garden, but he does what he can with the resources that he has. This is a great book about using your talents to make the best out of your situation, no matter what others say.

[Ruthie Planamenta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this book with my 1R second grade readers. I loved how Bulla crafted such a sentimental story about moving to a new school and being alone, without resorting to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Gregory’s story provides a template for young children to understand the tremendous hope that the arts can provide for anyone. We ended the novel with an art celebration of drawing with chalk on black construction paper—my students loved it!!

[Heather Shembarger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read about a young boy who goes through various experiences that are not ideal. Gregory has to deal with his dad losing a job, moving into a poorer section of town, being treated unkindly by his new classmates, and sharing a bedroom with a deadbeat uncle. Gregory is able to find his own little place that becomes his secret "garden" which eventually allows him to be seen in a different light and eventually brings him a sense of belonging, acceptance, and worth.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Childrens book. Listened to this with my 8-year-old daughter. It was a quick book about 30 minutes long. I thought it was entertaining and fun. It was a good story about moving to some where new and using your creativity and talents when in hard situations. My daughter and her second grade class had read it this year and she wanted to listen and share it with me again. She loves the book. (Free title to borrow on Hoopla).

[Lawanda James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gregory and his family have moved to a new town. Gregory has to start school and get to know new friends. He decides he want a place to call his own. Gregory creates this place in a special way. He become very popular in his the neighborhood. Uncle Max finds a new respect for his nephew. This book is heart warming!

[Jetta]

i think the book was great! Because i like chalk and we did fun stuff like drawing the chalk box kid out of white chalk. i think everyone would like it because the book would be good, Gregory makes good pictures too. Today we are gonna do something fun again with chalk, and we might grow some plants so that's it!!

[JoshuaA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this story my favorite person is ivy it make me sad and happy my favorite part is the ending.
my least favorite is Vance who ever made this book i like you my favorite favorite Person is uncle .
max i like how he calls Gregery the paint brush kid and chalk box kid I like this book think you.