The Paper Kingdom

Illustrated by Pascal Campion
An office at night is reimagined as a fantastical kingdom of paper complete with friendly dragons in this own voices picture book.

When the babysitter is unable to come, Daniel is woken out of bed and joins his parents as they head downtown for their jobs as nighttime office cleaners. But the story is about more than brooms, mops, and vacuums. Mama and Papa turn the deserted office building into a magnificent kingdom filled with paper. Then they weave a fantasy of dragons and kings to further engage their reluctant companion--and even encourage him to one day be the king of a paper kingdom.

The Paper Kingdom expresses the joy and spirit of a loving family who turn a routine and ordinary experience into something much grander. Magical art by Pascal Campion shows both the real world and the fantasy through the eyes of the young narrator.
Helena Ku Rhee is the award-winning author of picture books, including the bestselling The Paper Kingdom named to many year-end Best Books lists, including NPR, BookPage, Kirkus, Parents Magazine, and the Los Angeles Public Library, among others. The book was also featured on Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, and ABC – TV. Helena is also the author of Sora’s Seashells, a recipient of the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor, as well as Rosa’s Song. Her essays have appeared in The Los Angeles TimesThe New York Times and Salon. Helena has lived in various parts of the U.S., Asia, and Europe and now makes her home in Los Angeles. View titles by Helena Ku Rhee

Classroom Activities for The Paper Kingdom

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

  • NOMINEE | 2021
    South Carolina Children's Book Master List
An NPR Best Book of the Year

Praise for The Paper Kingdom:

Enchanting and powerful.—Booklist, starred review

A beautiful, must-read tribute to hardworking families and the magic they create.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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

"A meaningful portrayal of one working-class experience and an image of a loving, hardworking family." —Publishers Weekly

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

An uplifting story of a family working hard to make things better for the next generation.” School Library Journal

Colorful, impressionistic illustrations, awash with warmth and light…. Daniel’s wide-eyed, feet-planted observation invites readers to likewise contemplate the hierarchies and invisible labor of spaces they inhabit.” —The Horn Book

About

An office at night is reimagined as a fantastical kingdom of paper complete with friendly dragons in this own voices picture book.

When the babysitter is unable to come, Daniel is woken out of bed and joins his parents as they head downtown for their jobs as nighttime office cleaners. But the story is about more than brooms, mops, and vacuums. Mama and Papa turn the deserted office building into a magnificent kingdom filled with paper. Then they weave a fantasy of dragons and kings to further engage their reluctant companion--and even encourage him to one day be the king of a paper kingdom.

The Paper Kingdom expresses the joy and spirit of a loving family who turn a routine and ordinary experience into something much grander. Magical art by Pascal Campion shows both the real world and the fantasy through the eyes of the young narrator.

Author

Helena Ku Rhee is the award-winning author of picture books, including the bestselling The Paper Kingdom named to many year-end Best Books lists, including NPR, BookPage, Kirkus, Parents Magazine, and the Los Angeles Public Library, among others. The book was also featured on Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, and ABC – TV. Helena is also the author of Sora’s Seashells, a recipient of the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Award Honor, as well as Rosa’s Song. Her essays have appeared in The Los Angeles TimesThe New York Times and Salon. Helena has lived in various parts of the U.S., Asia, and Europe and now makes her home in Los Angeles. View titles by Helena Ku Rhee

Guides

Classroom Activities for The Paper Kingdom

Classroom activities supplement discussion and traditional lessons with group projects and creative tasks. Can be used in pre-existing units and lessons, or as stand-alone.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Awards

  • NOMINEE | 2021
    South Carolina Children's Book Master List

Praise

An NPR Best Book of the Year

Praise for The Paper Kingdom:

Enchanting and powerful.—Booklist, starred review

A beautiful, must-read tribute to hardworking families and the magic they create.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

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

"A meaningful portrayal of one working-class experience and an image of a loving, hardworking family." —Publishers Weekly

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

An uplifting story of a family working hard to make things better for the next generation.” School Library Journal

Colorful, impressionistic illustrations, awash with warmth and light…. Daniel’s wide-eyed, feet-planted observation invites readers to likewise contemplate the hierarchies and invisible labor of spaces they inhabit.” —The Horn Book

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