My toddler and I discovered 'The Day the Crayons Quit' last year, and absolutely fell in love with it. In this funny book, by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers, Duncan's crayons write him letters, expressing their demands and woeful grievances.
Red is overworked. Purple demands to remain inside the lines. Beige is sick of being called Light Brown and/or Dark Tan. Grey is extremely tired, because of coloring all the big animals, elephants and rhinoceros, and would prefer to color baby penguins instead. Green is enjoying its blissful life, but would like to settle the argument between Yellow and Orange, who both claim to be the one and only real color of the sun (Green peace, anyone?).
Red is overworked. Purple demands to remain inside the lines. Beige is sick of being called Light Brown and/or Dark Tan. Grey is extremely tired, because of coloring all the big animals, elephants and rhinoceros, and would prefer to color baby penguins instead. Green is enjoying its blissful life, but would like to settle the argument between Yellow and Orange, who both claim to be the one and only real color of the sun (Green peace, anyone?).
The book encourages creativity, and the colorful illustrations appeal to children. Whereas, adults can relate to the sentiment of being typecast, overworked, and misrepresented.
In the sequel, 'The Day the Crayons Came Home', the overlooked, lost, and neglected crayons send Duncan vintage postcards, to inform him about their whereabouts, so they can be rescued.
Maroon has been lost under the couch. Glow-In-The-Dark-Green has been forgotten in the basement. Turquoise is stuck inside a stinky sock. And, Gold has its head stuck inside a pencil sharpener. Pea Green writes to express its yearning for an adventure. Whereas, Neon Red shares its foreign travel adventures. Yellow and Orange also reappear.
Maroon has been lost under the couch. Glow-In-The-Dark-Green has been forgotten in the basement. Turquoise is stuck inside a stinky sock. And, Gold has its head stuck inside a pencil sharpener. Pea Green writes to express its yearning for an adventure. Whereas, Neon Red shares its foreign travel adventures. Yellow and Orange also reappear.
The sequel is just as entertaining as the first installment. Toddlers will find mixed-media illustrations amusing. Older children can probably relate to the sentiments of feeling homesick, neglected, and the desire for an adventure. The adults will enjoy the Picasso references.
I will rate this book 4 out of 5, because of the use of the word stupid, and an "accident" involving the brown crayon. But these reservations aside, I think both of these books encourage kids to be more creative. The text and illustrations tap into the childhood wonder and imagination, Antoine de Saint-Exupery expressed in 'The Little Prince'.
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