Title: The Day the Crayons Quit
Author: Drew Daywalt
Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers
Publisher: Philomel
Year of Publication: 2013
Genre: Fantasy
Horn Book Rating: 2
Summary: Duncan’s crayons feel over or under used. Really they feel that they are unappreciated so they leave Duncan letters to express their unhappiness.
Summary of Professional Reviews: This imaginative narrative takes us through the list of grievances Duncan’s crayons left in the box. From having to work on holidays, to exhaustion due to coloring expansive spaces, to being ignored, these crayons are looking for some changes.
Review by Crystal Ball: Have you ever received a Dear John letter? Poor Duncan received twelve in one day. His crayons had it; they quit! Their complaints range from working too hard to being ignored, just because it’s a girl color. Each one criticized Duncan for the way it was used. Each page shows you the letter left by the respective color along with illustrated examples of their gripes. Jeffers’ vibrant childlike handwriting and pictures are mesmerizing. Each image truly exemplifies its respective letter. As the case against Duncan build and builds you have to wonder how he could possible appease a dozen different crayons.
This book would be useful when teaching…
The Day the Crayons Quit would be useful to help open a dialogue about creative problem solving. Students could see how to think outside the box and try to apply the theory in their own lives.
It could also be helpful when teaching children about writing friendly letters. Daywalt begins each one with a greeting, then paragraphs in the body, and he concludes with a sign off. Students could follow the formula and write their own letters.
Summary of Professional Reviews: This imaginative narrative takes us through the list of grievances Duncan’s crayons left in the box. From having to work on holidays, to exhaustion due to coloring expansive spaces, to being ignored, these crayons are looking for some changes.
Review by Crystal Ball: Have you ever received a Dear John letter? Poor Duncan received twelve in one day. His crayons had it; they quit! Their complaints range from working too hard to being ignored, just because it’s a girl color. Each one criticized Duncan for the way it was used. Each page shows you the letter left by the respective color along with illustrated examples of their gripes. Jeffers’ vibrant childlike handwriting and pictures are mesmerizing. Each image truly exemplifies its respective letter. As the case against Duncan build and builds you have to wonder how he could possible appease a dozen different crayons.
This book would be useful when teaching…
The Day the Crayons Quit would be useful to help open a dialogue about creative problem solving. Students could see how to think outside the box and try to apply the theory in their own lives.
It could also be helpful when teaching children about writing friendly letters. Daywalt begins each one with a greeting, then paragraphs in the body, and he concludes with a sign off. Students could follow the formula and write their own letters.