Note: I received an F&G at ALA Midwinter 2020. ( )

Daniel's parents are night janitors; usually, his Aunt Clara comes to stay with the sleeping Daniel while his parents work, but one night, she can't, so he has to go with them. As they clean a large office building, they do their best to make it fun, inventing an imagined realm called the Paper Kingdom, home to the Paper King and Queen and many "small and friendly" (and messy) dragons. When Daniel asks, "Why are dragons so messy?" Mama replies, "Maybe they ate in a rush and forgot to clean up. They don't mean to be naughty." Daniel still feels it's unfair that his parents have to clean up after others, so his Papa says, "Someday you'll have to be king! Then you can...tell the dragons to be nice and neat." The final page shows Daniel tucked into his bed, asleep.

Author's note
"My parents used their humor and imagination to make an unpleasant situation seem full of possibility and magic. I wrote The Paper Kingdom for them, and for all hardworking families."

*

Re-read March 2021 ( )

In addition to being beautifully illustrated and begging to open a child's imagination, this book also addresses a reality that is true for many children in America. While it's a reality we wished wasn't happening, a book like this can be quite reassuring to a child who finds himself/herself in it. Definitely worth adding to a library. ( )