The Cardboard Kingdom

Author Chad Sell

Grades 4-7 Ages 9-12

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Awkward, and All's Faire in Middle School, this graphic novel follows a neighborhood of kids who transform ordinary cardboard into fantastical homemade costumes as they explore conflicts with friends, family, and their own identity.

"A breath of fresh air, this tender and dynamic collection is a must-have." --Kirkus, Starred

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!

The Cardboard Kingdom was created, organized, and drawn by Chad Sell with writing from ten other authors: Jay Fuller, David DeMeo, Katie Schenkel, Kris Moore, Molly Muldoon, Vid Alliger, Manuel Betancourt, Michael Cole, Cloud Jacobs, and Barbara Perez Marquez. The Cardboard Kingdom affirms the power of imagination and play during the most important years of adolescent identity-searching and emotional growth.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY KIRKUS REVIEWS * THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY * SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL * A TEXAS BLUEBONNET 2019-20 MASTER LIST SELECTION

"There's room for everyone inside The Cardboard Kingdom, where friendship and imagination reign supreme." --Ingrid Law, New York Times bestselling author of Savvy

"A timely and colorful graphic novel debut that, like its many offbeat but on-point characters, marches to the beat of its own cardboard drum." --Tim Federle, award-winning author of Better Nate Than Ever

Available Formats

Trade Paperback 9781524719388
Hardcover 9781524719371
eBook 9781524719395

State Awards

Connecticut

2021, Nutmeg Book Award, Nominee

DC

2019, Capitol Choices, Selection

Delaware

2020, Blue Hen Book Award, Nominee

Illinois

2019, Illinois Reads List, Selection

Indiana

2020-2021, Young Hoosier Book Award, Nominee

Maine

2019, Maine Student Book Award, Nominee

Maryland

2020-2021, Black-Eyed Susan Book Award, Nominee

New Hampshire

2019-2020, Cocheco Readers Award, Nominee

New Jersey

2020, Garden State Teen Book Award, Winner

Texas

2019-2020, Texas Bluebonnet Award, Nominee

2019, Texas Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, Selection

Utah

2021, Beehive Book Award, Nominee

Virginia

2019, VLA Graphic Novel Diversity Award, Honor

Wisconsin

2019, Wisconsin State Reading Association Recommends List, Selection

Random House Children's Books Teachers and Librarians