The Cardboard Kingdom

The novel features interstitial artwork between some of the chapters that usually depicts the children playing together. This art is in a slightly different style than the rest of the novel and does not appear between all chapters. What function does this artwork serve, and why do you think it appears between some chapters and not others?

How does Chad Sell use color to depict specific emotions and ideas throughout the novel? Pick two to three specific examples and explain how the use of color contributes to the overall meaning of each scene.

Analyze Roy, Sophie, and Nate’s younger brother. All three children dress up as some form of monster, but the underlying meaning of each persona is very different for each child. Identify their reasons for dressing up as they do.

Parents and guardians play a central role in several of the chapters. Compare and contrast two parental figures and explore how they impact their children’s outlook and well-being.

How does The Cardboard Kingdom define friendship? What attributes or characteristics mark a good friend? Use specific examples from the children’s myriad interactions to support your answer.

The Cardboard Kingdom is made up of 15 chapters, and each chapter is a self-contained story that is connected to the others through characters and setting. Why do you think the authors chose this structure instead of crafting one continuous story? What benefits does this looser structure have over a more traditional form of storytelling?

How does the novel use strategic illustrations to blend the boundaries between fantasy and reality? Focus on at least three different scenes to support your analysis, paying particular attention to the artists’ stylistic choices.

At its core, The Cardboard Kingdom is a novel about play. Beyond simply having fun, what important functions does play serve for all the children in the novel? Use specific examples to support your answer.