What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

Bruno Takes a Trip
This topic is about Bruno Takes a Trip
523 views
SOLVED: Children's/YA > SOLVED. Picture book, children's book (5-8 years), child is sent by mail, in a cardboard box. [s]

Comments Showing 1-18 of 18 (18 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by f_munch (last edited Apr 20, 2020 03:03PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

f_munch | 9 comments The book is NOT 'In the Night Kitchen', nor is it Christina Katerina & the Box'. I remember the illustrations as cute as Eric Hill's Spot, although perhaps a bit more detailed. I read this as a child, so it's from the late 70s or early 80s, I think. It's a feelgood story.

About 15-20 years ago I found it through Google, so what I remember from that search is that there are two persons responsible: one author and one illustrator. I vaguely recall that the illustrator is an award-winner (but maybe not for this book), and that she is a woman. I also think she (or both) is (are) either German or Dutch.

SPOILER:

-------------------------


I think the parents send the protagonist, a young boy, in a box, with stamps and all, although maybe he sends himself. I think it's the grandparents who are the end destination, although I'm not sure. Lots of evening scenes (dark blue sky), and I think there is a scene where he's up in the air flying somehow, perhaps on a flying carpet or by some kind of machine.


message 2: by Ayshe (new)

Ayshe | 4721 comments Not everything matches, but just in case: Conrad: The Factory-Made Boy?


f_munch | 9 comments Ayshe wrote: "Not everything matches, but just in case: Conrad: The Factory-Made Boy?"

Not quite, unfortunately. I'm pretty sure the box is made of cardboard and not tin. He sort of made a room for himself inside that box, with holes to look out.

Thanks anyway!


message 4: by Jen (new)

Jen Is it Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown?

Flat Stanley


message 5: by f_munch (last edited Apr 20, 2020 02:37PM) (new) - rated it 5 stars

f_munch | 9 comments Horrorfan wrote: "Is it Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown?

Flat Stanley"


I don't think it is. I've never thought of it as a series, although I could be wrong. However, I'm pretty sure that the boy is more chubby than flat actually :'D

SPOILER:

------------------


There wasn't much going on in the book (except for that air-carpet-machine scene) and the protagonist wasn't very complex. It was all about the magic of being on a journey. And the pictures were really nice: dark blue and dark red. The cozy cardboard box with all the necessary equipment for the trip. Maybe there was a dog, but I don't remember any animals. No action, no comedy, just a few happy, magical days.


f_munch | 9 comments UPDATE April 3, 2021:

I found an image from my parents computer, which is from the picture book I'm asking about:




message 7: by Ann (new)

Ann | 530 comments Maybe too recent, but "The Secret Box" by Barbara Lehman?


f_munch | 9 comments Thanks for the tip! My immediate response is that it's not "The Secret Box", although it might be the same illustrator. Or it might be that Lehman has found inspiration from this book. "Museum Trip" (Lehman) is also about being on your own.


message 9: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28668 comments The illustration does strike me as European.

Did you read the book in English?


f_munch | 9 comments Most likely not. I'm from Norway. There is a small, very small, chance that the book was in English, but that I only cared about the pictures. I just can't imagine my parents to get me a book in English at that age. Could be a gift from a foreigner, although I can't imagine that either.


message 11: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28668 comments I can't read Norwegian, but you might want to browse this list of results....

https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=kw%...


f_munch | 9 comments Tanks for the tip! I'm a librarian, so this might come in handy - whether I find this book or not!


message 13: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28668 comments Worldcat is a great resource!

Unfortunately, it won't let me search Norwegian results without putting in some type of keyword, which does hamper things a bit.


message 14: by Simi (new)

Simi | 147 comments Is it perhaps "Det hemmelige skrinet" by Barbro Lindgren? It was originally published in Swedish under the title "Hemliga lådans hemlighet", which translates to The Secret Casket, I think. If you hunt around you should find a picture of the cover, of a boy clambering into some kind of a box. The artstyle from the illustrator Lars Westman looks similar to the picture, although the child on the cover I saw was blonde not with black hair.


message 16: by SamSpayedPI (new)

SamSpayedPI | 2306 comments Bruno verreist for the link.


message 17: by Lobstergirl, au gratin (new)

Lobstergirl | 44924 comments Mod
Super.


message 18: by Rainbowheart (new)

Rainbowheart | 28668 comments Yay, glad it's solved! It looks so cute.

Bruno Takes a Trip by Achim Bröger


back to top