4 stars
Ten authors pair up with Chad Sell to create interconnected stories from the world of the Cardboard Kingdom. Sell does the artwork throughout, giving it consistency while letting the characters and authors shine. Reality and fantasy converge as the neighborhood kids play their way through summer, making new connections and learning lessons along the way.
Even in the short story format, this book has wonderful layers. Younger readers will enjoy the imagination and fun characters, and relate to the excitement of finding a really good box. Older readers may pick up on the heavier themes interwoven into the stories such as bullying, tense home environments, and disagreements with parents and caregivers.
The stories in this book promote teamwork, not being afraid to use your voice, standing up for others, collaboration, and having fun. Some are heavy, some are light, some are wordless, some use dialogue, but all have their own charm.
A few of my personal favorite stories were Katie Schenkel’s “The Big Banshee”, Manuel Betancourt‘s “The Prince”, and Michael Cole’s “The Gargoyle”.