The Paperboy (children's book) facts for kids
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| Author | Dav Pilkey |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Orchard Books |
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Publication date
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March 1, 1996 |
| Pages | 32 |
| Awards | Caldecott Honor |
| ISBN | 978-0-531-09506-5 |
| OCLC | 32700284 |
The Paperboy is a 1996 children's picture book by American author and illustrator Dav Pilkey. Inspired by Pilkey's own experiences as a paperboy, it tells the story of a paperboy and his dog as they deliver newspapers in the early hours of the morning. The Paperboy received positive reviews from critics and was awarded a 1997 Caldecott Honor for its illustrations.
Plot
An unnamed paperboy and his faithful dog wake up early each morning while it is still dark and cold outside and his family is still asleep. After breakfast, the paperboy folds and delivers newspapers, accompanied by his dog; they both find happiness and comfort in the familiar routine. They finish at sunrise as the world begins to wake up and they return home to fall asleep and dream.
Background and publication
According to Pilkey, The Paperboy was written in fifteen minutes, although he had thought about the idea for two or three years beforehand. The story was inspired by Pilkey's own experiences as a paperboy delivering the Lorain Journal. In an interview, he stated: "I liked the independence I felt when it seemed like I was the only person in the whole world who was awake." Pilkey quickly completed the illustrations for The Paperboy so he could dedicate time to what was to be his subsequent book, Make Way for Dumb Bunnies.
The Paperboy was published on March 1, 1996, by Orchard Books. An audiobook version, narrated by Forest Whitaker and accompanied by a short video with animations based on the original illustrations, was released by Weston Woods Studios in 2000.
