The Day The Crayons Quit

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This is all apropos of nothing, except to say that the book was worth the trip . . . and putting up with Joe. In it we learn that Duncan's crayons are not happy. And what better way for crayons to express their disapproval than by leaving handwritten notes for their owner to find. What happens when your crayons go on strike? Duncan has a problem he has to solve, and soon ... it's hard to make EVERY crayon happy. There are those that think they work too much, the ones they think they work too little or their use in the coloring of a picture is cliché ... or they need a new wrapper and refuse to work in the nude ... those that have a dispute between them, like about who is better to depict the sun, or those that think their color should over-spill outside the lines .... or like poor Pink Crayon That’s my next book!” I yelped gleefully, “If the other crayons were all bent out of shape over how they were being used, imagine how THESE ones feel??!” Peach Crayon is upset because Duncan peeled his wrapper off and now he is 'naked.' I found this storyline strained, but okay.

The crayons quit because they're all a bit tired of coloring the same old things. Each crayon writes a separate letter, explaining exactly what they're each tired off. [The letters look really good, by the bye] and there's a sample of the coloring they're talking about. Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit! I love the message of the book, even though it is extremely didactic, and the humor and the pictures are wonderful.The good news is, Duncan is a responsible crayon owner, and does his best to accede to their requests. The result is fabulous. I stood there looking at the not-quite-a-rainbow-mess in disgust, when my wife looked over and saw my expression, and asked what was wrong.

I really liked the last painting, it should encourage kids to be creative, while the colors of different things are not accurate, it came out actually as an amazing painting! Yes, I am an adult, and I like crayons. And books, too. The Day the Crayons Quit is a fun read (and author's name is Drew, pun intended). The idea behind this book is great, nice illustration and really greatly written, but I didn't like the abrupt ending. I really wish like there was more in problem-solution way or how Duncan found his crayons, or how he was searching for them. Now I was left wishing for more and the whole book felt just hurriedly finished. I loved the authors unique concept. So many children's books tend repeat the same themes these days.This is also an epistolary picture book. I don't know if Daywalt knows this, but a common assignment given by a variety of different elementary school teachers requires kids to read epistolary books ( Dear Mrs. LaRue, The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman, etc.). As such, The Day the Crayons Quit is no doubt destined to remain on multiple children's book lists for decades and decades to come.

You Know Jenny the Bookish Knight and someone else (was it Anne perhaps?) recommended me children books before when i was feeling depressed, Jenny said they helped her, I thought no way they could help me! One of the things I love about an occasional visit to Barnes and Noble is getting my hands on a darling (brand spanking new) little gem like this in the children's book section. The more I think about it, the more I am in favor of children's books preaching the message of collective bargaining. I’d been writing dialogue for movies and TV for over ten years at that point and thought, hmm… what if I draw on my strengths? What if I gave each crayon a monologue about how they felt about my coloring habits? I bet they’d give me an earful. I guess some reviewers find the crayons too "whiny," but I see nothing wrong with an inanimate object objecting to being used improperly. And, Duncan's crayons have a litany of complaints from overuse to who makes a better sun - yellow or orange. And the poor peach crayon - it's all naked 'cos Duncan peeled off its paper!I read it to myself. Smiled a lot. Then I called Zach over and read it to him. And I'm putting it on my to-read shelf, only so I can remember to for sure find it again and read it to my other little guys. Sometimes I think I would make an excellent children's book buyer for my local library. :o) This colorful title should make for an uproarious storytime.” –School Library Journal, starred review Once again, Daywalt and Jeffers create rich emotional lives and personalities for their colorful cast, and it’s hard to imagine a reader who won’t be delighted." – Publishers Weekly, starred review I embarrassed myself at the circulation desk reading it because I kept barking out laughter. The illustrations are fantastic (same guy who illustrated "This Moose Belongs to Me", another one of my faves) and the text is spot on. The title and cover image are enough to get you giggling all on their own. But the epic battles depicted by children’s book powerhouses Drew Daywalt and Adam Rex are sure to have us in stitches.” Best Books of the Month