Brady Sato – illustratör

Maya went into her box when a classmate teased her, and again when another hurt her feelings.

Now she’s there most of the time. It’s safe and quiet and best of all it can be anything she wants it to be. She brings it on bike rides and to school, and while kids used to notice it, now they barely see her at all. But Maya can't help but wonder if there might be something she's missing. Yes, it's noisy and scary out there, but it's also exciting and fun. Finally, Maya bravely decides to step out into the sunshine and find her place in the world—outside her box.

Josie loves her comfort blanket.

It can be anything she wants it to be, from a dinosaur to a canoe to a pond to fish in, and she brings it with her everywhere. But when Grandma comes to stay, she notices that the blanket is looking a little dirty and threadbare, so she gives it a good wash and patches it up. When Josie sees her blanket again, it doesn't look the same at all. This shrunken and faded imposter blanket has to go, and Josie throws it away on a walk with Grandma. But the next day, Josie gets lost on a short errand, and in her panic, she isn't sure where to turn. Right when she needs it, she finds her blanket again, and it shows her the way home. Even though it might look different, it's the same old trusty blanket after all!