REVIEW: IT’S NATIONAL CUSTODIAL WORKER DAY!

What a wonderful group of people to honor today. I love having a clean house, but I hate cleaning. It’s hard work and the rewards are pretty fleeting. Whether someone spills something or walks across a just vacuumed rug or dust instantly appears again, that clean doesn’t last long. Custodial workers do all that hard work for someone else, only to do it all over again. Let’s take a moment to show our appreciation for all those custodians, today and every day. Here is a picture book that tells the story of a boy who accompanies his parents on their night janitor job and, with their help, transforms what could have been a dull night into one of adventure: 

​TITLE: THE PAPER KINGDOM

AUTHOR: Helena Ku Rhee

ILLUSTRATOR: Pascal Campion

PUBLISHER: Random House/2020

​OPENING LINES: 
Mama and Papa were night janitors. While they got ready for work, Daniel got ready for sleep.
Tonight he was so very tired. He snuggled into his bed in a corner of the apartment. Suddenly, BRRRIIIING!
Mama answered the phone. “Oh, I see. That’s okay.”
She walked over to Daniel. “You have to come with us, little bug.”

​Not all children can relate to having to accompany their parents on a night shift job, but most can remember at least one time they had to wake up in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning (I know I don’t like getting out of my bed, especially when the sun hasn’t risen yet!). That’s enough to make one person a little grumpy. Then tired Daniel has to go to his parents’ job in an angry-looking building. A dirty building. One his parents have to clean. Where’s the fun in that? But Daniel’s parents invent stories about a King who rules the Paper Kingdom and the night does become fun. This book is full of imagination and color and emotion and a subtle, but important message to appreciate others’ hard work. Overall, a lovely read!
 
 
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