BOX OF DREAMS

A child helps pack a balikbayan box, a package of presents sent by members of the Filipino diaspora to family back home.

“Balikbayan” means “return to home,” explains Mama to the young narrator. A large cardboard box sits on the floor of their living room, surrounded by canned food, cookies, shampoo, chocolate, and other items. This box is “how we share our blessings with our family” and “feel closer to them, even though we’re so far away,” Mama says. The child excitedly examines the pasalubong, or gifts. The yellow pencils spur Mama’s happy memories as a schoolgirl in the Philippines; readers see a scene of Mama skipping around rice paddles against the backdrop of the cone-shaped Mayon Volcano and trees filled with sweet mangoes. Inspired, the child wants to contribute, too. After gathering a shirt covered with gold stars, a rainbow ruler, and a sparkly jacket, the little one returns to find Mama reminiscing about beloved foods that her family will make with their gifts. As the duo tape up the box, the child slips in one last thing: a wish to visit the family in the Philippines. Almeda perfectly matches the cozy tone of Kazmi’s evenly paced, tender tale with warm colors and expressive cartoons that fill each page.

This is one big package of love and joy.