Red: A Crayon's Story

by Michael Hall, Michael Hall (Illustrator)

Overview

A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone.

Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age!

Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries!

Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062252074
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	02/03/2015
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	55,516
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 11.70(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Michael Hall grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the creator of numerous acclaimed picture books for children, including Frankencrayon, Red: A Crayon’s Story, My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Perfect Square, and It’s an Orange Aardvark! 

Michael Hall grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the creator of numerous acclaimed picture books for children, including Frankencrayon, Red: A Crayon’s Story, My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Perfect Square, and It’s an Orange Aardvark! 

Editorial Reviews

12/15/2014
Red is a crayon, and children will see his problem right away: his label reads “red,” but he’s blue. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he’s a poor performer in school, where his drawings are expected to be red. Hall (It’s an Orange Aardvark!) has a fine ear for dialogue, and the overly cheerful encouragement Red endures will sound familiar to any child who’s struggled to perform: “I’ll draw a red strawberry, then you draw a red strawberry,” coaches the scarlet crayon. “You can do this. Really!” But a page turn reveals two rows of strawberries, one scarlet and the other... blue. A Greek chorus of grown-up crayons lined up across a black spread makes patronizing comments: “He’s got to press harder.” “Really apply himself!” Only when Red is at his wit’s end does he meet Berry, a crayon who actually sees him. “Will you make a blue ocean for my boat?” Berry asks quietly, and that’s all it takes to change Red’s life. Stories about accepting differences abound, but this one delivers its message in an unexpectedly affecting way. Ages 4–8. Agent: Anna Olswanger, Olswanger Literary. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

[A] fresh approach to colors and feelings. . . . Readers will share all the emotional elements of the tale—humor, despair, sadness, frustration, and finally, excitement.

Booklist (starred review)

This story of mistaken identity has a simple yet profound premise that makes it feel fresh.

USA Today

02/01/2015
PreS-K—Step inside the life of a crayon in this funny and poignant picture book. The star of the show is Red, a blue crayon who mistakenly has a red label. His teacher tries to convince him to draw strawberries, but they show up blue. He tries on a red scarf, but it just does not match. His mother suggests he mixes with other colors, but the results are not what he expects. No matter how hard Red tries, his efforts just keep coming out blue. His other crayon friends try to help him reinvent himself, but no matter what they do, Red is still a blue crayon. After much self-doubt and denial, Red makes a new friend, a Berry-colored crayon, who asks him to complete his drawing by adding a blue ocean for his boat. Red gives it a go, and suddenly, he finds his true self and discovers what his other art-supply friends knew all along. The rest of his crayon friends are impressed with his new style, and Red comes to embrace his true identity. Hall's latest picture book is all about staying true to oneself, no matter what others say. The illustrations emulate children's artwork, giving readers a great opportunity to identify colors and new vocabulary. Large, clear text make this perfect for a read-aloud, as well as independent reading. VERDICT Reminiscent of Drew Daywalt's The Day the Crayons Quit (Philomel, 2013), this witty and heartwarming book is sure to become a favorite for children and adults alike.—Natalie Braham, Denver Public Library

School Library Journal

2014-11-11
When a red-labeled crayon discovers he's actually blue, he finds joy, ebullience and acceptance.Red tries to be a quintessential red crayon, coloring fire trucks, strawberries, hearts and cherries, but no matter the object, they all turn blue. Fellow crayons begin to gossip. Some say he needs to press harder or grow out of it; others say he's lazy or unintelligent. The other art supplies offer a makeover, taping and snipping away. But all fail to look beyond Red's wrapper to what's inside. Until Berry asks him to draw something blue. When Red succeeds, he feels free! He feels himself, and drawing becomes a delight. The personified crayons change their tune, claiming to have always known his true color. Digital illustrations, done in a graphic, cut-paper style in a primary palette, pop on their white or black backgrounds. And while the crayons themselves are not expressive, Hall's compositions, manipulation of text, and simulated graphite and crayon markings convey a strong sense of emotion. Finding strength in his difference, Red captures that feeling of ease, self-acceptance and freedom in an exuberant, far-reaching sky. Smartly designed and appealing, Red's story offers much for discussion and affirmation. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews

[A] fresh approach to colors and feelings. . . . Readers will share all the emotional elements of the tale—humor, despair, sadness, frustration, and finally, excitement.” — Booklist (starred review)

“When a red-labeled crayon discovers he’s actually blue, he finds joy, ebullience and acceptance. . . . Hall’s compositions . . . convey a strong sense of emotion. Red captures [his feelings] . . . in an exuberant, far-reaching sky. Smartly designed and appealing, Red’s story offers much for discussion and affirmation.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Crayon Red may be labeled red, but he colors blue. . . . Once he lets go of his label and proclaims, “I’m blue!” everything turns around . . . Smart design, bold colors, and sharp details keep the story both effective and amusing.” — Horn Book Magazine

“Red is a crayon, and children will see his problem right away: his label reads ‘red,’ but he’s blue. . . . The overly cheerful encouragement Red endures will sound familiar to any child who’s struggled to perform. . . . Unexpectedly affecting.” — Publishers Weekly

“Funny and poignant . . . Hall’s latest picture book is all about staying true to oneself, no matter what others say. . . . Witty and heartwarming [and] sure to become a favorite for children and adults alike.” — School Library Journal

“Funny and clever, with a wonderful message about embracing who we are.” — Huffington Post

“This story of mistaken identity has a simple yet profound premise that makes it feel fresh.” — USA Today

“[A] smart, insightful coming-of-age story for [the] youngest readers.” — Shelf Awareness

From the Publisher

[A] smart, insightful coming-of-age story for [the] youngest readers.

Shelf Awareness

Funny and clever, with a wonderful message about embracing who we are.

Huffington Post

Crayon Red may be labeled red, but he colors blue. . . . Once he lets go of his label and proclaims, “I’m blue!” everything turns around . . . Smart design, bold colors, and sharp details keep the story both effective and amusing.

Horn Book Magazine

This story of mistaken identity has a simple yet profound premise that makes it feel fresh.

USA Today

Spoiler alert: Young listeners need to know that Red is a blue crayon with a red paper wrapper. With this information, the humor and the celebration of determination and individuality come shining through this story. When his family and his crayon friends can’t figure out why Red is not a successful crayon, it takes a new friend to help him soar. As narrator, Robin Miles purposefully lets each story moment have the spotlight, and she gives personality to everyone in the crayon box. Red’s teacher has an authentic “teacher voice” when encouraging him, his grandparents sound well meaning but dismayed, and the scissors’ brisk speaking pace suggests their quick snips. Best of all is Miles’s depiction of Red’s elation when he begins his new project. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2015 - AudioFile

Spoiler alert: Young listeners need to know that Red is a blue crayon with a red paper wrapper. With this information, the humor and the celebration of determination and individuality come shining through this story. When his family and his crayon friends can’t figure out why Red is not a successful crayon, it takes a new friend to help him soar. As narrator, Robin Miles purposefully lets each story moment have the spotlight, and she gives personality to everyone in the crayon box. Red’s teacher has an authentic “teacher voice” when encouraging him, his grandparents sound well meaning but dismayed, and the scissors’ brisk speaking pace suggests their quick snips. Best of all is Miles’s depiction of Red’s elation when he begins his new project. A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine

MARCH 2015 - AudioFile