“The Paperboy” by Dav Pilkey, writer and illustrator
Orchard Books, New York, 1996, 32 pages. Grades 1-3.
As our world is increasingly interconnected through telecommunications, it becomes increasingly more difficult to find activities outside the home that teach personal responsibility. But children only learn responsibility by being given responsibility.
This obvious fact has been and still is taught through activities such as babysitting, mowing lawns, detasseling corn and hard work. It has also been taught through paper routes for generations of American children.
Paper routes demand diligence, the ability to endure harsh weather, and to encounter challenging situations. But children delivering papers gained much from the experience. They learned self-discipline, personal motivation and the important fact that things don’t get done without initiative. So paper routes seem like simple things, but many children learned maturity and the important fact that “money doesn’t grow on trees” from these activities. Dav Pilkey has written and illustrated an acclaimed picture book on this subject. The name of this delightful book is “The Paperboy.”
It is early morning and the paperboy is lying comfortably asleep in his bed. His dog is curled up next to him enjoying the warmth of the covers. The air is cold outside and the stars are still shining down on the sleeping world. But the paperboy wakes up and knows that he has to deliver his paper route before everyone begins their day. He dresses in the early dawn as his dog stirs beside him. They carefully walk downstairs so as not to wake up the other members of the family. The paperboy pours some cereal into a bowl for his breakfast and also fills his dog’s bowl with food. They both then begin eating their breakfasts. Next, they go to the garage where the daily papers have been left. The boy folds and ties a rubber band around all of his papers. Then he and his dog begin the delivery. Since the papers are heavy, riding his bike is difficult until he builds up some speed. But he just keeps at it and soon is going smoothly.
The paperboy has memorized his entire route so that even in the darkness he knows where each paper goes. As he rides through the crisp air, he thinks about his life and what is important that day. Meanwhile, his dog runs behind the bike and chases all the squirrels on the route. As he delivers paper after paper the paperboy feels a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. While everyone else was comfortably asleep he has done something. He and his dog have contributed to his town by delivering a valuable product to many homes. As daybreak begins, the paperboy continues to work. Each day he must finish the job, so he keeps on pedaling. More rewards are about to come to him. What happens?
What has he learned from his hard work and dedication? Why does he have such a sense of satisfaction? Have you ever worked consistently at a challenging task and achieved your goals? What traits did you have to develop to accomplish this success? What does the paperboy teach all of us? To find out, go to the library and check out “The Paperboy” by Dav Pilkey.
“The Paperboy” won the Caldecott Honor Medal for distinguished art in 1997. Sadly, less children are delivering newspapers these days because of the changes in the publishing industry. So we may have to find new ways for children to learn the valuable skills taught in this warm and evocative book. Having said that, you will enjoy reading and sharing this lovely book with the younger members of your family. Many people will say that the book is “delightful” when they finish reading it. “The Paperboy” is a touching book.
