With “Big Box Little Box,” author Caryl Hart and illustrator Edward Underwood create a simple but extremely engaging picture book featuring (mostly) an adorable dark grey (black?) cat, many boxes, and a cute little mouse. Note: both the mouse and the cat live happily ever after.

The text rhymes and is lots of fun to read aloud. The cat and its antics are very entertaining. The illustrations are simple, with swaths of color and patterns and a matte almost-abstract style.

It all works beautifully together. It’s a picture book that kids will want to read over and over, and it’s the kind of book that allows children to memorize the words and read with a parent or teacher. They’ll enjoy the happy ending and the unlikely friendship between the cat and the mouse.

Who will love this book? Cat lovers, mouse lovers, boxes in a house lovers.

Please note: This review is based on the final, hardcover picture book provided by Bloomsbury Children’s Books, the publisher, for review purposes.