The Invention of Toilet Paper

An illustrated inventions story from Wonder Inventions — free to read, with narration.

The Invention of Toilet Paper — an illustrated inventions story, set in United States. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

The Invention of Toilet Paper — book cover — Wonder Inventions
The Invention of Toilet Paper — an illustrated inventions story, set in United States. 10 illustrated pages, free to read on Wonder Inventions.

Page 1

"Santiago, hand me a napkin, please," Adriana said, carefully balancing a juicy peach over her plate. Santiago sighed dramatically.
"Santiago, hand me a napkin, please," Adriana said, carefully balancing a juicy peach over her plate. Santiago sighed dramatically. "Why can't we just be done with this picnic? My hands are sticky, and I'm pretty sure I just sat on an ant hill." Adriana wrinkled her nose. "You know, it's weird to think about how people cleaned up messes before napkins or...

"Santiago, hand me a napkin, please," Adriana said, carefully balancing a juicy peach over her plate. Santiago sighed dramatically. "Why can't we just be done with this picnic? My hands are sticky, and I'm pretty sure I just sat on an ant hill." Adriana wrinkled her nose. "You know, it's weird to think about how people cleaned up messes before napkins or... toilet paper!" She ran inside, her worn leather notebook clutched in her hand, and headed straight for her glowing Invention Encyclopedia.

Page 2

The bedroom began to swirl with light as Adriana opened the book. "I wonder who thought of that invention?" she pondered aloud as the room dissolved into a rush…
The bedroom began to swirl with light as Adriana opened the book. "I wonder who thought of that invention?" she pondered aloud as the room dissolved into a rush of colors. The last thing she saw before the world shifted was Santiago's bewildered face peering through the doorway. In a flash, Adriana found herself in a bustling courtyard filled with people wearing elaborate silk robes.

The bedroom began to swirl with light as Adriana opened the book. "I wonder who thought of that invention?" she pondered aloud as the room dissolved into a rush of colors. The last thing she saw before the world shifted was Santiago's bewildered face peering through the doorway. In a flash, Adriana found herself in a bustling courtyard filled with people wearing elaborate silk robes.

Page 3

"Well, this isn't the library," Adriana muttered, clutching her notebook tightly. A woman in an exquisite silk robe noticed her confusion.
"Well, this isn't the library," Adriana muttered, clutching her notebook tightly. A woman in an exquisite silk robe noticed her confusion. "Lost, little one?" she asked with a kind smile. "Can I help you find your way?" Adriana took a deep breath, trying to hide her nervousness. "Actually, yes. I am looking for the person who invented... toilet paper."

"Well, this isn't the library," Adriana muttered, clutching her notebook tightly. A woman in an exquisite silk robe noticed her confusion. "Lost, little one?" she asked with a kind smile. "Can I help you find your way?" Adriana took a deep breath, trying to hide her nervousness. "Actually, yes. I am looking for the person who invented... toilet paper."

Page 4

The woman chuckled. "Toilet paper? Such a modern term!" she exclaimed. "I am Meera, a member of the Imperial Court. In 1391, the Imperial Household Logistics…
The woman chuckled. "Toilet paper? Such a modern term!" she exclaimed. "I am Meera, a member of the Imperial Court. In 1391, the Imperial Household Logistics Department of China started to mass produce paper specifically for wiping. Before that, people used anything they could find – leaves, rags, even seashells!" Adriana scribbled furiously in her notebook. "Seashells?! That sounds...uncomfortable."

The woman chuckled. "Toilet paper? Such a modern term!" she exclaimed. "I am Meera, a member of the Imperial Court. In 1391, the Imperial Household Logistics Department of China started to mass produce paper specifically for wiping. Before that, people used anything they could find – leaves, rags, even seashells!" Adriana scribbled furiously in her notebook. "Seashells?! That sounds...uncomfortable."

Page 5

"Indeed," Meera agreed, a slight grimace on her face. "The Emperor himself exclusively used soft, perfumed paper! A whole fifteen thousand sheets a year!"…
"Indeed," Meera agreed, a slight grimace on her face. "The Emperor himself exclusively used soft, perfumed paper! A whole fifteen thousand sheets a year!" Adriana's eyes widened. "Fifteen thousand?! That's a lot of...wiping!" Meera smiled. "As Confucius said, 'Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.' Even something as simple as clean paper can bring comfort and dignity."

"Indeed," Meera agreed, a slight grimace on her face. "The Emperor himself exclusively used soft, perfumed paper! A whole fifteen thousand sheets a year!" Adriana's eyes widened. "Fifteen thousand?! That's a lot of...wiping!" Meera smiled. "As Confucius said, 'Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it.' Even something as simple as clean paper can bring comfort and dignity."

Page 6

Adriana flipped through her notebook, searching for a clean page. "But...how did they make so much paper? And did other people use it, or just the Emperor?"…
Adriana flipped through her notebook, searching for a clean page. "But...how did they make so much paper? And did other people use it, or just the Emperor?" Meera led her towards a nearby workshop, the rhythmic thump of mallets filling the air. "Come, I'll show you. While the Emperor had his perfumed paper, commoners also used it, though of a coarser variety."

Adriana flipped through her notebook, searching for a clean page. "But...how did they make so much paper? And did other people use it, or just the Emperor?" Meera led her towards a nearby workshop, the rhythmic thump of mallets filling the air. "Come, I'll show you. While the Emperor had his perfumed paper, commoners also used it, though of a coarser variety."

Page 7

Inside the workshop, workers pulped hemp and bamboo, then spread the mixture thin to dry. "It's all recycled now, of course," Meera added.
Inside the workshop, workers pulped hemp and bamboo, then spread the mixture thin to dry. "It's all recycled now, of course," Meera added. "But even back then, they understood the importance of using resources wisely! The Song Dynasty even implemented paper money – imagine, using paper for trade!" Adriana wrote furiously, amazed by the ingenuity of the ancient Chinese.

Inside the workshop, workers pulped hemp and bamboo, then spread the mixture thin to dry. "It's all recycled now, of course," Meera added. "But even back then, they understood the importance of using resources wisely! The Song Dynasty even implemented paper money – imagine, using paper for trade!" Adriana wrote furiously, amazed by the ingenuity of the ancient Chinese.

Page 8

"It's incredible!" Adriana exclaimed, snapping her notebook shut. "So, China was using toilet paper hundreds of years before anyone else!" Meera nodded.
"It's incredible!" Adriana exclaimed, snapping her notebook shut. "So, China was using toilet paper hundreds of years before anyone else!" Meera nodded. "Indeed. Though it took many centuries for the idea to spread throughout the world. In 1857, Joseph Gayetty of the United States started selling commercially packaged flat sheets of manila hemp paper moistened with aloe, calling it 'Gayetty's Medicated Paper'."

"It's incredible!" Adriana exclaimed, snapping her notebook shut. "So, China was using toilet paper hundreds of years before anyone else!" Meera nodded. "Indeed. Though it took many centuries for the idea to spread throughout the world. In 1857, Joseph Gayetty of the United States started selling commercially packaged flat sheets of manila hemp paper moistened with aloe, calling it 'Gayetty's Medicated Paper'."

Page 9

Suddenly, the courtyard began to shimmer, signaling Adriana's return. "Thank you, Meera! This was amazing!" she shouted as the world dissolved around her again.
Suddenly, the courtyard began to shimmer, signaling Adriana's return. "Thank you, Meera! This was amazing!" she shouted as the world dissolved around her again. Back in her bedroom, Adriana slammed the Encyclopedia shut and raced to the living room, her notebook held high. Santiago looked up from his video game, startled. "What's with all the yelling?"

Suddenly, the courtyard began to shimmer, signaling Adriana's return. "Thank you, Meera! This was amazing!" she shouted as the world dissolved around her again. Back in her bedroom, Adriana slammed the Encyclopedia shut and raced to the living room, her notebook held high. Santiago looked up from his video game, startled. "What's with all the yelling?"

Page 10

"Did you know that the Chinese were making toilet paper in the 1300s?" Adriana declared. "And that before that, people used seashells?" Santiago wrinkled his…
"Did you know that the Chinese were making toilet paper in the 1300s?" Adriana declared. "And that before that, people used seashells?" Santiago wrinkled his nose. "Gross! I'm really glad someone invented the soft stuff we have now." Adriana grinned. "Me too! Next time you reach for a roll, remember all the history behind it!" She took a bite of her peach, much cleaner now. Fun fact: The average person uses about 100 rolls of toilet paper per year!

"Did you know that the Chinese were making toilet paper in the 1300s?" Adriana declared. "And that before that, people used seashells?" Santiago wrinkled his nose. "Gross! I'm really glad someone invented the soft stuff we have now." Adriana grinned. "Me too! Next time you reach for a roll, remember all the history behind it!" She took a bite of her peach, much cleaner now. Fun fact: The average person uses about 100 rolls of toilet paper per year!

About this story

  • Location: United States
  • Audience: kids (ages 6–12)

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