The Paper Kingdom

"Mama and Papa were night janitors," writes Rhee (The Turtle Ship), who bases this story on her own experiences growing up. "When they got ready for work, Daniel got ready for sleep" across the cozy room from where his mother is cooking. But tonight, the person who usually watches Daniel can't come, and Daniel's parents have asked the upstairs neighbors for "too many favors." The child must leave his bed and accompany them. The security guard looks the other way, and Daniel's parents get to work cleaning a corporate office, telling their son it's "The Paper Kingdom" ruled by two monarchs and inhabited by dragons. Dad makes jokes and Mama says of the dragons, "They don't mean to be naughty," while gentle digital images by Campion (Good Morning, City) depict a bright, fluorescent-lit space. But the kingdom is a mess: the board room is littered with papers, the kitchen is a "disaster," and the work is obviously grueling. "It made Daniel feel hurt inside" to watch his parents labor in the middle of the night, and he rails about the unfairness of their having to clean up after others. Rhee ends on an upbeat note (maybe one day Daniel will be king, and "tell the dragons to be nice and neat"), and her story offers both a meaningful portrayal of one working-class experience and an image of a loving, hardworking family. Age 3-7. Author's agent: Bill Contardi, Brandt & Hochman Literary. Illustrator's agent: Justin Rucker, Shannon Assoc. (Feb.)

Gr 1-3--When his babysitter calls in sick, young Daniel is taken by his parents to their job cleaning an office after hours. The empty building initially scares and confuses Daniel. He doesn't understand why his mother and father have to clean it. They explain that the office is home to the Paper King and a bunch of dragons who leave trash everywhere. Although his parents insist that the dragons don't mean to be messy, Daniel is incensed by the injustice. But he is soothed when his parents tell him that one day, he can be king and tell the dragons to be less messy. Campion's illustrations are gentle and colorful. He conveys the family's economic status on the first page when we see Daniel sleeping in the same room as the stove and dining table. The perspective of some scenes is off; however, there are also subtle details like the characters' reflections in the shiny, freshly mopped floors. The text is mostly composed of Daniel's questions and his parents' explanatory dialogue, but it also alludes to how hard their work is. They sweat, sneeze, cough, and rub their necks as they clean the office board room. VERDICT Inspired by the author's own life, this is an uplifting story of a family working hard to make things better for the next generation.--Chance Lee Joyner, Wilton Public and Gregg Free Library, NH

"A layered, loving picture book tribute to family and the sacrifices that parents make for their children's future." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"An affectionate tribute to the bonds of family and the unexpected memories we form when we perform seemingly mundane tasks together." —BookPage