Under The Wing of an Angel

"Under the Wing of an Angel is a story of the forging of the creative spirit under the harsh conditions of Depression and war. Now a sculptor working in Canada, John Boxtel was only nine when the German army occupied the Dutch town of Goirle. While their parents struggled to keep the family safe and fed, young Boxtel and his ten brothers and sisters smuggled and scavenged, literally playing in minefields until the town was liberated by Canadian troops. Life - school, church, love - went on and with some ingenuity and imagination, a young artists found stimulation even under the painful conditions of war. Boxtel's vivid account does not deny the general terror of the experience, but looks for the humour, or at least the irony, in every situation. A child's-eye view of occupation and conflict, it is also a graphic record by a gifted youngster witnessing the world around him. Direct, passionate and often hilarious, this is a story to be shared with equal pleasure by older children and adults."

Go Fly a Kite the Kite Builder’s Manual

Subtitled "The Kite Builder's Manual", this book includes step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions for more than a dozen kites. From the basic Diamond to the beautiful soaring Eagle, all of the kites in this book are built with inexpensive, readily available materials.

Thousand Island Pioneer

An intimate portrait of a couple chasing their dream. Boxtel and his partner gave up their Toronto city lifestyle to purchase and renovate an old farmhouse on Wallace Island, in the heart of the Thousand Islands. This is his account of the renovations, and their first winter on the island.

Go Fly A Kite

Flying a kite is a fascinating pastime that has given many people, both young and old, great pleasure. The building of kites, once considered a lost art, is now recorded for all to enjoy. [This book] includes step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions for more than a dozen kites. From the basic Diamond to the beautiful soaring Eagle, all of the kites in this book are built with inexpensive, readily available materials

Beware of Black Spiders and Widows

Studio-John Boxtel