The Paperboy

The Paperboy
Story and Paintings by Dav Pilkey
1997 Caldecott Award

As a child, I always wondered who mysteriously delivered our newspaper to our front porch. I remember my Mother and Father explaining the organized process of newspaper routes, describing how early the delivery crew would wake to ensure that paper was delivered long before the first cup of coffee was poured in each house of our neighborhood. I never was much of a morning person, even as a child, so trying to understand how and why people wanted the job of delivering newspapers in the wee hours and chilly mornings was beyond my understanding.
The picture book, The Paperboy, provides a sincere appreciation for the early riser who fulfills this service we take for granted. I can easily see why these impressive pictures were awarded a Caldecott Award. The vividly painted setting and sympathetic feelings we have toward the Paperboy’s early schedule is captured in the book’s illustrations. The story is a perfect description of the responsibility one young boy and his dog undertake to deliver the newspaper on his route every morning, a story that my classroom students would surely cherish.
Whether the story would be used to discuss jobs that young children have, services in our community, or it will be used to emphasize the relationship between the boy and his dog, I will definitely use this story as a read aloud in my classroom. One of our Harcourt themes in third grade is “What a Team!” It features Balto, the Dog Who Saved Nome and Rosie, a visiting Dog’s story; I am always searching for narrative texts to reinforce the team of a helping dog and human. My students could use The Paperboy to make many text to text connections with the Harcourt stories. Whether you are a parent, a child, or a fellow educator, I highly recommend reading The Paperboy as it satisfies the wonder of newspaper delivery.