This was a wonderful rendition of what is meant by opening Pandora's Box! A young couple releases a witch in a trap in the forest and is given three wishes. The first is for a daughter, the second is for her to be protected from evil and sadness, and the third is for her to be loved by all. They are granted the first. The second they will have to do themselves by taking tokens of everything evil and sad and putting them into a box and never let their daughter open the box. Then she will be protected and loved by all. They tried their best until one day a little boy was lost in the forest and crying. Dora's mother took him in and took his tears from him and put them into the box. During the night he showed Dora where the box was and told her his tears were in the box and that her mother had taken them. He wanted them back and to find his mother. He was sad. Dora did not know what sad was. She had only know happiness and love her whole life. She climbed up to the shelf where the box was hidden and opened it. She gave the boy back his tears and experienced all that had been hidden from her. Now she could truly experience love from all because she was able to experience compassion for others as well. ( )

This book features a more relatable version of the myth of Pandora's Box. After an encounter with a witch, Dora's parents put everything evil and sad in a magic box, which Dora must never open. Dora lived her life feeling only happiness until a young visitor needs her help and she decides to open the box.

The illustrations are colorful and exaggerated, giving the story a surreal feeling. ( )