The Chalk Box Kid

A simple little story that is more sophisticated than it might look at first glance. I quite liked it. Gregory is unhappy because his family recently moved and in all the busy hustle his birthday kind of got forgotten. He’s pleased to have his own room in the new house though- for a while that is, until his uncle moves in and he has to share. It no longer feels private, no longer his own space. He struggles to fit in at his new school and often feels ignored at home. Then he finds an old abandoned building behind his house- a failed chalk factory that had burned down. On the blackened walls he starts drawing pictures. In school the kids are learning about gardening, and are given seeds to take home and grow. Gregory doesn’t have show more space to grow anything, but doesn’t mind because instead he draws a garden on his walls, adding something each day after learning about plants in class. When the kids at school learn that he’s drawing a garden on the walls of an empty building, they tease him. But then some of them come to take a look, and his efforts are met with admiration instead. And he might just have made a new friend. I read this in one sitting. Short and sweet and a very nice message. Reminded me somewhat of The Cartoonist by Betsy Byars. show less

Deceptively simple, with some rather rich themes. The power of imagination is only one, there's also a bit about bullies (fortunately just teasing, not fighting) and friendship and a place of one's own. Of course it's very like [b:The Hundred Dresses|42369|The Hundred Dresses|Eleanor Estes|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328875733s/42369.jpg|1000219] but with a boy, and more up-to-date. Lovely.

A new neighborhood. A new school. An unhappy birthday. Things aren't looking great for Gregory. But when he discovers an abandoned chalk factory behind his house, something magical happens: a beautiful garden and a quiet friendship spring up within its walls.

In this story Gregory's family moves to a smaller house in a poorer part of town because his father lost his factory job. There is nowhere to play, but Gregory discovers a nearly burnt-out building that formerly was the chalk factory. Even though the kids at the new school don't accept him readily, Gregory is happyfor him the blackened walls of the building become his giant canvas. This book has an inspirational story within it and young readers will be drawn to it. Gregory is a young artist who is trying to fit in and make friends, but is completely satisfied just drawing in his abandon chalk factory. It is a good book for children to start if they are trying to get familiar with chapter books. It has some challenging words, so you show more might want to have this book be apart of guided reading groups. So, students can work together to find meaning in the text and help get through the more challenging words. show less

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?

I thought I was this kid when I was little.

good - Katrina