Lily and the Paper Man

by Rebecca Upjohn, Renné Benoit (Illustrator)

Walking with her mother on the way home from school one day, Lily runs straight into a gruff and untidy-looking man selling papers on the street. Frightened, Lily insists on taking the bus home every day for fear she will run into him again. But when the weather turns cold, Lily starts to see the Paper Man differently; she sees his bare toes through the holes in his boots and his thin shirt through the holes in his coat. As she lies in her warm bed at night, she wonders about the Paper Man and how he stays warm. Lily comes up with an idea and overcomes her fear.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Social Justice, Poverty, Realistic Fiction, Fiction

24 pages, Hardcover

First published October 30, 2007

About the author

When Rebecca was small, her family's television blew up and her parents decided not to replace it. Instead they filled the house with books...so it's not entirely surprising that Rebecca developed a love of reading and writing her own stories.

Reviews

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily always enjoyed walking home from school with her mother, until the day she encountered a scruffy-looking older man, selling newspapers outside of Mrs. Chan's store. Terrified by his unsmiling face, growling voice, and unkempt appearance, Lily began to opt for the bus, in order to avoid this frightening "Paper Man." But then one snowy day, enchanted by the winter wonderland around her, Lily decided to walk home again, and (bumping into the Paper Man) noticed some things she had overlooked before. Like how thin the Paper Man's clothing was, how tattered and full of holes; like how cold he looked, standing outside with his papers. Why wasn't he wearing any socks?, she asked her mother. The answer set Lily to thinking - about how fortunate she was to have a safe, warm home, and about what she could do to help the Paper Man...

This lovely little picture-book addresses some very serious problems - poverty, homelessness, childhood fears - in a gentle, sensitive way, offering a realistic and respectful depiction of the issues, without veering too far into the traumatic. Lily's feelings of fear are natural, but so too is her desire to help, once she overcomes that fear, and Upjohn captures both very nicely in her narrative. Renné Benoit's beautiful watercolor illustrations, which I found particularly appealing in the snowy scenes, really accentuate the emotional impact of the story, whether that be Lily's fear of the Paper Man, or her delight in a snowy day. All in all, Lily and the Paper Man - published by the woman-owned feminist publisher, Second Story Press - is a wonderful book, one I would recommend to anyone looking for a good introduction, for younger children, to issues like hunger, homelessness, and fear of strangers.

[Lisa Vegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of Lily, a young empathetic girl, who is first afraid of the poverty stricken and likely homeless neighborhood paper man, then notices his condition, and with great generosity figures out how she can help and, with a bit of help from her parents, implements her plan. People who meet/know Lily will feel proud of her and like her.

I do have to say that while I did really like this book, I also feel like a curmudgeon, Scrooge, and a kill joy wrapped up into one. One of my pet peeves is helping someone who needs much more help than they’re given. I guess it’s a bad attitude because I know every little bit helps. And the paper man, Ray, gets not only the very useful gifts that Lily gives him, but the feeling of being cared about, and that’s probably at least as valuable a thing to receive.

The illustrations are perfect: big and colorful and expressive. Everyone’s facial expressions are spot on perfect.

At the end Ray reminds me a tiny bit of how Santa Claus would look; it’s a stretch but I saw it.

I came close to tears on a few occasions and in that way this reminded me of a Patricia Polacco book.

This would make a wonderful book to read for a group story time with discussion, and between parent and child or children, and young readers will savor reading this one on their own too.

[Lily Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this story is great and I feel that a lot of people will be able to connect with it. The main character, Lily, walks down the street everyday with her mother until she sees a scary, beat down man selling newspapers. She was terrified of him for a long time until she noticed that amidst the snow and wind, this man had no socks and holes in his shirt. She realized that he didn’t have everything she was fortunate enough to have. So she worked to help him stay warm in the winter. This book has such a great message, that just because someone looks a certain way, doesn’t mean you have to treat them with any less kindness. People are so quick to assume things about people on the street, but if you take the time to care, you may come to realize how wrong you were.

[Morgan Dunton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is great for a lesson on poverty. Lily, the main character, and her story with the homeless man, makes it easier for children to relate and understand her. Just like other children, she is at first very scared of the homeless man. But towards the end of the story, she sets a goal to help him. She teaches a lesson on how we can make small changes to help someone struggling with poverty.

[Krista Lutgring · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells the incredible story of young Lily who is first afraid of the homeless man but when winter rolls around she becomes empathetic and wants to help him. I love this story because it may be relatable for many young students and can open doors for children to ask more questions. The idea of homelessness can sometimes be hard for young children to understand if they do not experience it for themselves and this book does a great job of starting the conversation.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily is a little girl who walks home from school with her mother everyday, until she sees the Paper Man. She becomes frightened of the homeless man who tries to make a living selling papers for $1.00. After that they take the bus home each day. When winter comes and the first snowfall beckons, she wants to walk again. When she sees the paper man she notices that he is not very well dressed and he is not wearing socks, she can see his toes through the holes in his shoes. She asks her mother about him and she is told that he does not have warmer clothes and they are lucky to have so much. This starts her thinking. After a few days she is able to gather up or buy clothes, socks, a hat, scarf and mittens. She introduces herself to the paper man and finds out his name is Ray. She gives him everything in her bag, even her quilt that her grandma made her when she was little. both Lily and Ray are happy with this solution.

What a wonderful way to teach children about homelessness, compassion and social justice. It shows that anyone, no matter how young can make a difference if they set their mind to it.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really engaging and age appropriate book about homelessness. It easily passes my I-can-read-it-ten-times-aloud (hmm, new acronym? Acritta?) bar, and brought me to tears the first time I read it to my 3-1/2 year old. The illustrations are lovely. I don't my daughter yet understands the class issues, or exactly what homelessness is, but the first time we read it, she was spurred to ask interesting questions about why someone wouldn't have a home (and, uncomfortably for us grown-ups, why they don't live in all the extra space we have in our houses).

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love to see stories that challenge children to think and to feel grateful for what they have, and I can see that 'Lily and the Paperman' would do just that. Full of points for discussion in the school classroom and within the family, Lily's sensitive contemplation of the paperman and her attempt at resolving the situation is heart-warming and educational. Adult readers would appreciate that this is indeed not the end of Ray's misery, but it is an excellent starting point for children. The accompanying illustrations are perfect.
A lovely story.

[Bethany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect book to demonstrate how children can do simple acts to help the needy in their community.

[Fatima Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily and the paper Man is a simple yet engaging story about a young girl named Lily. While out with her mother on the way home from school one day, Lily encounters an untidy-looking man selling papers on the street. Lily is afraid of the man at first and convinces her mother to take a bus everyday in order to avoid him. When winter comes and the first snowfall arrives, she wants to walk again. When she sees the paper man again, she notices that he is not very well dressed and he is not wearing socks, she can see his toes through the holes in his shoes. Then Lily starts to notice how cold he looks in the icy cold weather. Lily asks her mother why the paper man has no socks. Her mother tell her he does not have warmer clothes and they are lucky to have so much.

That night while Lily lies in her warm bed at night, she wonders about the Paper Man and how he stays warm. Lily comes up with an idea and overcomes her fear. She makes a plan with her parents to buy clothes, socks, a hat, scarf and mittens for the homeless paper man. She introduces herself to the paper man and finds out his name is Ray. She gives him everything in her bag, even her quilt that her grandmother made her when she was little. The homeless man is very thankful, telling Lily he has not been this warm in a long time which makes Lily very happy!

This book is very engaging and author has used simple language which makes it appropriate for very young readers. This story can also be a great tool in fostering compassion and empathy into young children. Illustrations are lovely and colourful and facial expressions of each character is captured perfectly. Over all I loved the book!! it’s a heart warming story and gives a wonderful message of transforming feelings of empathy and kindness into action and making a difference to someone’s life.

Highly recommended!!
Review by Fatima Khan, Associate Producer, ReadingWithYourKids.com

[Sarah Roberts · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story a young girl sees a man who is homeless selling newspapers and she feels scared. Over the course of a few weeks, she realizes that she wants to help the man rather than avoid him. She gathers warm clothing and a special quilt to give to the man. She does all of this on her own which makes her feel happy. I am not sure if I would use this book in my future classroom. I do like the honesty that I think many people can relate to of being scared of homeless people but the ending is overly simplistic so I think it may trivialize the real struggle of being homeless. If I did use it, I would use it a read aloud to allow a discussion about homelessness and feelings.
copyright- 2007
themes- homelessness

[Katelyn Garza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindness, overcoming, realistic

This book is about Lily, a young girl who walks the town with her mom. She is loved by everyone she walks past. One day she see's the paper man. He is a man with torn boots, long hair, and no jacket. Lilly gets scared, but realizes when it gets cold, he has no way to be warm. Lily does what she can to help the man stay warm in the cold winter.

I think that I could use this book in a reading lesson by using TEK 3.10A "explain the author's purpose and message within a text." I think that students learning to be kind and finding the deeper message within the book would be beneficial.

[Dylan Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admittedly cried while reading this, in part because I could relate to Lily and her desire to help while also uncertain and a little afraid at first. Lily and the Paper Man manages to expose readers to the concept of homelessness without any judgement or attitude, only showing us how the compassion of people can help make the world a little better, one step at a time.

[Faith Harvieux · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily and the Paper Man is a great introduction to a lesson on Socioeconomic status. Lily is a little girl who has a lot on her mind. When she sees the homeless man who is selling newspaper she is very confused. I am sure that many children her age have felt this way in the past, especially those living in the city. Lily asks her parents about the situation and really wants to help the man. At the end of the story, Lily gives the homeless man clothes. This gesture of generosity is a great thing to teach to children, it not only teaches kindness but the idea of community as a whole.

[Laura Weakland · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great story for helping kids develop empathy for those in need. Can’t wait to share this “taking care of others” message with my students! Would also love to do a service project with them as well.

[Rev Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of how a man in need touches a little girl’s heart. She sees a need and does something about it. Adults should read it. The story brought tears.

[Sherry Scheline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What an incredible story.

[BiblioBeruthiel · Rating 4 out of 5]

My one quibble is that I wish Lily would switch to using Ray's name when thinking about him once he tells her his name.

[Nanny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!!

[Canadian Children's Book Centre]

Lily lives in a neighborhood where everyone is friendly and familiar. But that all changes when she crashes straight into a homeless man selling newspapers on the street. Terrified by his bedraggled appearance and growling voice, Lily avoids him from that day on…until the first snow fall. Then Lily starts to notice just how cold he looks in the icy winter air, shuffling from foot-to-foot with his bright red ears and thin, torn clothes, and slowly she realizes that she can do something to help. In her debut picture book, Lily and the Paper Man, Rebecca Upjohn does a remarkable job of realistically portraying an important social issue through the eyes of a child. Lily’s candid observations, innocent questions, and genuine empathy transform a nameless and threatening stranger into a member of the community.

Engaging, heartwarming and sincere, this story unobtrusively delivers a message of shared human compassion, while showing readers of all ages how a single child can make a difference. The emotion and candor captured by this story are beautifully brought to life in Renné Benoit’s soft yet bright watercolors. Benoit’s portraits add another layer to the text, brilliantly capturing the characters’ subtle emotions. Lily and the Paper Man is a great choice for parents and teachers alike in opening the conversation on, or merely drawing attention to, this important but difficult topic.

Reviewed by Kathy Hammer in Canadian Children's Book News
Winter 2008 VOL.31 NO.1

[Kim Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple story about a young girl named Lily. While out with her mother, Lily encounters a grubby man on the street selling newspapers. Each day, her mother buys a newspaper from the grubby, and probably homeless, man. Lily is afraid of the man at first, and convinces her mother to ride the bus in order to avoid him. When the weather turns cold, Lily asks her mother why the paper man has no socks. Lily's mother gives Lily her fist lesson in social reality--not everyone is as fortunate as Lily. Lily overcomes her fear, and gathers up warm things for the homeless man, including her favorite quilt. The homeless man is very thankful, telling Lily he has not been this warm in a long time.

Although there are reviews that pan this text for being too fairy tale like, it is a simple lesson for very young children in looking out for those who are less fortunate. I did like that the mother and the father were polite to the paper man--yet another lesson in decent human behavior for Lily.

Overall, this simple story is suitable for very young children. There isn't a lot of depth to the storyline or the characters, but it does give children a glimpse into ways they can show compassion for others without being scary.

[Kelly McKeon]

This text allows students to better understand poverty and homelessness. The main character, Lily, much like my own students, is frightened of a poor and possibly homeless man she seems every morning selling papers. She further explores within why she is scared, and soon realizes that rather than be afraid, she needs to help him. Students will connect with Lily and further find themselves proud of her as she attacks her plan with the help of her parents. This story will teach empathy and personal struggle as students relate with Lily and her journey of realization in how to help those in need rather than fearing the unknown.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very romanticized tale of a little girl who fears a neighborhood homeless man, but then wants to help him when she realizes how cold he is in winter. To be honest, I think Lily's intentions are great, but it makes all of the adults in her life look like assholes. The parents, who also obviously know how cold the man is, can't take the time to stop and buy him a hat? That's pretty crappy. Kudos to teaching kids to be nice to people who have less than they do, but if the parents aren't going to model that behavior it's not going to get reinforced.

[Terry]

Like Lily, our daughter was put off by the Paper Man. It took quite a bit of encouragement for her to read this story with us. After several attempts, we just started reading and eventually she sat down beside us. This is an exceptional story that effectively introduces personal hardship, empathy, and kindness without overplaying any one of those themes.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lily is frightened by the gruff looking and shabbily dressed man who sells papers on their street. As fall changes into winter and she realizes that the man doesn't have adequate clothing for the cold, she gets an idea on how she can make a difference. This book is a good discussion starter about homeless or others less fortunate to help children understand compassion and generosity toward others.

[Hil · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is all about the game of hockey. As a Canadian I am supposed to love hockey, but I don’t. As a result I do not love or hate this book. My toddler likes it, but doesn’t ask for it regularly.
I would not buy it for myself, but would if I knew a hockey fan who read to a toddler.

http://www.raisingfairiesandknights.c...

Review from Raising Fairies and Knights

[JustOneMoreBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall rain surrenders to vividly blustering snow as a young girl thinks her way from fear through curiosity, empathy and finally into action in this heartwarming tale of hardship and humanity.

You can listen in on our chat about this book on our Just One More Book! Children's Book Podcast.

[Karen Upper · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming tale of a young girl taking the initiative and making a difference....taking the first step and by doing so involves a variety of community members, as well as her family, to come to the aid of someone less fortunate!

A wonderful story to inspire kindness and generousity!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

[Taina]

This book shows a fear of the unknown and overcoming that to find understanding, compassion and empathy. It teaches students to keep an open mind and see people for humans. It also brings up the idea of activism. Lily sees something unjust and comes up with a plan to help fix it.

[Christen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young Lily is afraid of the imposing man who sells papers on the corner until she takes some time to notice how little he has as the weather turns cold. In my bag for my "season of generosity" lesson plans.