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tashrow's review against another edition
5.0
When Auntie Clara can’t watch Daniel while his parents go to work at night, he goes along with them to their janitorial job. Daniel had been warm and snuggly in his bed, but had to get dressed and ride downtown. As his parents get their tools and equipment ready to go, they begin to tell him about The Paper Kingdom, which is the land that they clean every night. The throne room is a large room with a long table with papers strewn everywhere. The king is nowhere to be seen. His parents warn Daniel to not upset the queen and to be on the lookout for dragons who seem to like hiding in the bathrooms. Daniel gets upset when he sees how much cleaning work all of the kingdom has left for his parents. They encourage him to instead focus on becoming the paper king in the future and ruling differently.
In her author’s note, Rhee tells of her own childhood as a daughter of night janitors and being taken with them to work sometimes. The playful world created by the parents in the book is warm and loving. Yet it also subtly speaks to the role of power and wealth in the system in a way that children will understand. The hard work by Daniel’s parents is emphasized throughout the picture book with the parents doing physical labor and sneezing and rubbing sore muscles.
The illustrations also emphasize the extent of the workload of the parents, the sweat pouring from them and them often working on hands and knees. The imaginative playfulness is also shown with the red dragons lurking around.
A winning look at parents who work nights. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
In her author’s note, Rhee tells of her own childhood as a daughter of night janitors and being taken with them to work sometimes. The playful world created by the parents in the book is warm and loving. Yet it also subtly speaks to the role of power and wealth in the system in a way that children will understand. The hard work by Daniel’s parents is emphasized throughout the picture book with the parents doing physical labor and sneezing and rubbing sore muscles.
The illustrations also emphasize the extent of the workload of the parents, the sweat pouring from them and them often working on hands and knees. The imaginative playfulness is also shown with the red dragons lurking around.
A winning look at parents who work nights. Appropriate for ages 3-5.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
5.0
It's night, but the babysitter can't come, so Daniel goes along with his parents in their jobs as janitors in a big office building downtown. As they clean, they tell Daniel stories about the king and queen and dragons of the Paper Kingdom where they work.
This is a very touching story, reminding us all of the people who work hard to get by each day, reminding us to appreciate their work.
"But why do you have to clean it all?" It made Daniel hurt inside to see Mama and Papa clean such a huge mess by themselves....
"Remember, little bug," Mama whispered. "Remember to be nice when you become king."
This is a very touching story, reminding us all of the people who work hard to get by each day, reminding us to appreciate their work.
"But why do you have to clean it all?" It made Daniel hurt inside to see Mama and Papa clean such a huge mess by themselves....
"Remember, little bug," Mama whispered. "Remember to be nice when you become king."
mikolee's review against another edition
4.0
Sweet illustrated children’s book about a boy who must go with his parents to their night time job as janitors in a large corporate building. To ally his fears of the scary corporate building his parents make up stories about the kingdom. Sweet and a bit sad at our corporate structure that breeds this inequality.
Author apparently grew up as child of janitors so that makes it more appealing.
Author apparently grew up as child of janitors so that makes it more appealing.
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