The Cardboard Kingdom
#1 in The Cardboard Kingdom Series
on Goodreads (8,069)
What’s inside...
A group of neighborhood kids create fantastical adventures and imaginative worlds out of cardboard in their backyard. The book explores gender identity, friendship, family life, and social issues through the eyes of these young characters. Welcome to a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary boxes into colorful costumes, and their ordinary block into cardboard kingdom. This is the summer when sixteen kids encounter knights and rogues, robots and monsters—and their own inner demons—on one last quest before school starts again. In the Cardboard Kingdom, you can be anything you want to be—imagine that!
Discussion points
What did you think about the different characters in The Cardboard Kingdom and their unique costumes? Which one was your favorite and why?
How do the kids in the book use their imagination to create their own world? Can you think of a time when you used your imagination like that?
Each character faces different challenges and learns something about themselves by the end of the story. What is something you learned from one of the characters?
The characters in the book work together to build their cardboard kingdom. Why is teamwork important when working on a big project?
How did the story make you feel? Were there parts that made you excited, scared, or happy?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to describe their favorite parts of the book and why they stood out to them. This helps them articulate their thoughts and feelings.
Ask your child to draw their own cardboard costume or kingdom inspired by the book. This can help connect the themes of the book to a fun, creative activity.
Discuss the different emotions that characters experience in the book. This can help your child understand and express their own emotions.
Relate the teamwork in the story to real-life situations like school projects or family activities, highlighting the importance of collaboration and respect for others' ideas.
After reading, ask your child how they might act differently if they were in a similar situation as one of the characters. This encourages empathy and critical thinking.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Creativity and Innovation
Explanation: In 'The Cardboard Kingdom', children use cardboard to build a vivid imaginary world. This showcases their ability to innovate and create elaborate structures and stories from simple materials.
Real-World Application: Children can engage in creative play with everyday objects at home or school, fostering ingenuity and problem-solving skills.
Example Lesson: Teamwork and Collaboration
Explanation: The book highlights characters from diverse backgrounds working together to create their kingdom, demonstrating how collaborative efforts can lead to great accomplishments.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to participate in group activities and appreciate the benefits of working collectively towards a common goal.
Example Lesson: Acceptance and Empathy
Explanation: By depicting a variety of characters with different personalities and life circumstances, the book teaches children to accept and understand others who may be different from themselves.
Real-World Application: Children learn to be more inclusive and empathetic towards their peers, which can lead to more harmonious interactions at school and in social settings.
Example Lesson: Confidence and Self-Expression
Explanation: Characters in 'The Cardboard Kingdom' dress up as superheroes, villains, and other fantastical creatures, expressing themselves and gaining confidence in their unique identities.
Real-World Application: This lesson inspires children to explore and express their own identities and passions without fear of judgment.
Example Lesson: Problem-Solving
Explanation: Throughout the book, children encounter various challenges in maintaining their kingdom, which they solve through creative thinking and cooperation.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to think critically and come up with resourceful solutions to obstacles they might face in their daily activities or group projects.