Awards
A Junior Library Guild selection.
Synopses & Reviews
Simple seeds of friendship grow into something extraordinaryAfter World War II there is little left in Katje's town of Olst in Holland. Her family, like most Dutch families, must patch their old worn clothing and go without everyday things like soap and milk. Then one spring morning when the tulips bloom "thick and bright," Postman Kleinhoonte pedals his bicycle down Katje's street to deliver a mysterious box - a box from America! Full of soap, socks, and chocolate, the box has been sent by Rosie, an American girl from Mayfield, Indiana. Her package is part of a goodwill effort to help the people of Europe. What's inside so delights Katje that she sends off a letter of thanks - beginning an exchange that swells with so many surprises that the girls, as well as their townspeople, will never be the same.
This inspiring story, with strikingly original art, is based on the author's mother's childhood and will show young readers that they, too, can make a difference. Boxes for Katje is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.
Review
"[E]ngaging...[A] potent and merry lesson in generosity....Dressen-McQueen immerses readers in post-war Holland, crafting an entirely credible world of cobblestone streets, Dutch architecture and vintage clothing." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Review
"Dressen-McQueen captures the flavor and essence of Fleming's 1945 family experience through her detailed mixed-media paintings....As heartwarming and uplifting as a bouquet of tulips." Kirkus Reviews
Review
"[T]he story is...moving, and Dressen-McQueen's lively illustrations, in colored pencil, oil pastel, and acrylic, pack lots of color, pattern, and historical details onto every expansive page." Kathleen Odean, Booklist
Review
"Fleming...presents endearing, fleshed-out characters with whom readers can easily empathize and sympathize....A good choice for storyhour as well as for independent reading and an excellent discussion starter." School Library Journal
Review
"[W]onderfully illustrated....An informative, inspirational story of young people sharing with others." Carolyn Mott Ford, Children's Literature
Synopsis
Life is tough for Katje and everyone in Holland, but generous packages from Rosie in America brighten her life.
Synopsis
After a young Dutch girl writes to her new American friend in thanks for the care package sent after World War II, she begins to receive increasingly larger boxes.
Synopsis
Boxes for Katje (HC)
About the Author
Candace Fleming is the author of
Gabriellas Song. She lives in Mount Prospect, Illinois.
Stacey Dressen-McQueen lives in Portland, Oregon. This is her first book.