Boxed In

A wise grandpa steps in when perfectionism meets a pristine box of art supplies in this sweet and motivating story for creative spirits of all stripes.

In a picture book ideal for budding artists and perfectionists alike, one child’s fear of making a mistake is redirected into a gleefully free-form day of art-making. Ellie can’t wait to show Grandpa her gift: neat rows of colored pencils, shiny tubes of paint, even a heart-shaped eraser, all tucked into a gorgeous wooden box. It’s so perfect! There’s just one problem: Every time Ellie thinks about using it, she freezes. What if she messes up and ruins her beautiful supplies? When an unintentionally squiggly line and a broken pencil tip lead to a vow of giving up drawing forever, Grandpa nonchalantly pulls out his own used and well-loved art kit, along with some not-blank paper, and invites Ellie to help set the congealed colors free. Every child who has ever felt constrained by perfectionism and all the caregivers who love them will be charmed by this inspirational ode to can’t-mess-up creative freedom.