Helena Ku Rhee

Based on the life of the famous 16th-century Korean admiral, Yi Sun-Sin, who was never defeated in battle, and who is celebrated for his victory over the Japanese at Myeongnyang, this engaging picture-book offers an imaginative story about how the Korean Geobukseon, or turtle ship, was first designed. Opening in Sun-Sin's childhood, it imagines the young boy entering a ship-designing contest announced by the king. When his first ideas don't work, Sun-Sin is inspired by his turtle companion's show more steady dependability in the water, and offers him as an inspiration for the new design...

Although the historical Yi Sun-Sin is noted for his use and improvement of the Geobukseon, based upon earlier models, rather than for inventing it outright, Korean tradition still considers him the inventor of the ship, something reflected in debut author Helena Ku Rhee's engaging narrative. I appreciated the brief afterword, which gives more information about the subject, as I was not previously familiar with this important figure from East Asian history. It's fascinating to learn that the Geobukseon was the world'd first ironclad ship, as that claim had erroneously been made by scholars about the much-later ships of the American Civil War. I found The Turtle Ship both informative and entertaining, and I think young children will as well. The artwork, done by debut illustrator Colleen Kong-Savage in collage, is just lovely, with a textured feeling that is a pleasure to peruse. All in all, a wonderful picture-book, one which straddles the fiction/non-fiction line, but nevertheless offers an informative text exploring a subject too little-known here in the states. show less

Daniel's parents are night janitors; usually, his Aunt Clara comes to stay with the sleeping Daniel while his parents work, but one night, she can't, so he has to go with them. As they clean a large office building, they do their best to make it fun, inventing an imagined realm called the Paper Kingdom, home to the Paper King and Queen and many "small and friendly" (and messy) dragons. When Daniel asks, "Why are dragons so messy?" Mama replies, "Maybe they ate in a rush and forgot to clean show more up. They don't mean to be naughty." Daniel still feels it's unfair that his parents have to clean up after others, so his Papa says, "Someday you'll have to be king! Then you can...tell the dragons to be nice and neat." The final page shows Daniel tucked into his bed, asleep.

Author's note
"My parents used their humor and imagination to make an unpleasant situation seem full of possibility and magic. I wrote The Paper Kingdom for them, and for all hardworking families."

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Re-read March 2021 show less

In addition to being beautifully illustrated and begging to open a child's imagination, this book also addresses a reality that is true for many children in America. While it's a reality we wished wasn't happening, a book like this can be quite reassuring to a child who finds himself/herself in it. Definitely worth adding to a library.

The Paper Kingdom by Helena Ku Rhee is a short story about a young boy named Daniel and his parents, and the night that they had to bring him to work. Daniel's Aunt Clara wasn't able to watch over him for the night, so his parents bring him to their workplace. The parents begin cleaning up quite a large mess, picking up papers, wiping down tables and counters, mopping the floors. Daniel, watching his parents work so hard to clean up the mess, begins to grow upset. He asks them why people are show more so messy, expressing frustration that they are only leaving a mess for them to pick up later. During the book, Daniel's parents invent ways for Daniel to have fun. They tell him that they are in the Paper Kingdom, cleaning up for the king. Overall, the Paper Kingdom follows the theme of imagination and duty, finding a way to blend the two of them together in a beautiful way. show less