I used to yearn that I would discover a secret world amidst our ordinary day-to-day lives (and if it was teeny-tiny that would be especially nice, thank you!). Some children are so clever that they create these worlds for themselves, and Roxaboxen is a tale of just that. It seems that many of these stories are based on an idyllic setting with lush gardens, rolling hills or flowing rivers. What's great about Roxaboxen is that it's an imaginary land created in the inhospitable environment of a barren lot in the desert. With just rocks, wooden boxes, sticks and cacti, a group of neighborhood children create a world of their own, complete with neighborhoods, shops, local government, currency, and of course a few rules:
Everybody had a car. All you needed was something round for a steering wheel. Of course, if you broke the speed limit you had to go to jail. The jail had cactus on the floor to make it uncomfortable, and Jamie was the policeman. Anna May, quiet little Anna May, was always speeding—you'd think she liked to go to jail.
With a matter-of-fact sense of humor and captivating story, Roxaboxen details the diverse happenings that took place in this special world: house construction, bread-baking, (stick) horseback riding and more. The illustrations are sweet and just detailed enough to get our imaginations rolling. The subject matter is interesting for older readers, yet the pacing makes it friendly for younger children as well. And it's proof that with enough imagination, anyone anywhere can create a rich world of enchantment for themselves.
Fun Fact: Roxaboxen is based on the real childhood events of the author's mother, who grew up in Yuma, Arizona. In fact, a Roxaboxen Park was opened in 2000 to memorialize this beloved book, and descendants of the original Roxaboxenites were in attendance!
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