Justine’s Comments (group member since Dec 01, 2013)

Justine’s comments from the Ask Justine Borrego group.

What do you do with a plain card board box?

While my kids were playing with a plain card board box I decided to start a children's books series that revolves around all mythology. I want to bring this topic and introduce it to a younger age group. I started with the popular Greek and Roman mythology. Our next title is about Vikings and will incorporate Norse mythology. The following books in the series will each incorporate a different mythogy. We hope to write books about Indian mythology, Jewish mythology, Chinese mythology and Mayan mythology just to name a few.

The concept of our books involves a plain card board box. Studies have shown that the best toy you can give a child is a plain card board box. The best kind of play with boxes is unstructured play. This gives children the opportunity to explore a versatile open-ended material without an end result in mind.

Cardboard boxes can engage children for hours. But more than that, playing with a cardboard box can build skills that toys with more bells and whistles can't, such as creativity, imagination and resourcefulness. Cardboard boxes inspire creativity and imagination. A cardboard box takes them on adventures and helps them explore imaginary places in their minds.

This is the concept of our books. We renamed the cardboard box, as a chimera box. In each of the chimera box books, a child jumps into this magical box and allows their imagination to transform them into a different character. In order for this transformation to take place, each child must find the hero within.

The first book in the series, war of the gods- sees our hero , Justin realizing his dreams of becoming the best Greco Roman warrior around. Justin will travel to dangerous lands, come face to face with terrifying creatures, and prepare for his most challenging battle of all.

Our aim with these books is to entertain whilst promoting reading and writing. Most importantly we would like our books to encourage children to open their minds to the wonderful world of imagination. And in effect, motivate children to allow their creativity to emerge in their real lives by setting high goals and standards for themselves. Basically to reach for the stars.

"Logic will get you from a to b. Imagination will take you everywhere" -Albert Einstein

"All children inspire me. My children motivate me."- Justine Borrego

What do you do with your card board box?