The Crayon: A Colorful Tale About Friendship

by Simon Rickerty

Two quirky creatures. One box of crayons. Unlimited laughter. This colorful friendship story with minimal text is a treat for the imagination!

One little creature has a red crayon. The other has a blue crayon. They’re ready to color, and they’re just getting started. Before you know it, hilarity ensues as every color in the crayon box gets pulled out. What will they draw next? And can they ever learn to share?.

Genres: Picture Books, Friendship, Childrens, Storytime, Art, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published December 30, 2013

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story features two, extremely cute little spiders, one red and one blue, who are doing some colouring. Can they both colour on their own side, or will they end up arguing? This book cleverly features illustrations, and pictures of crayons, to demonstrate how you can make pictures and show the different colours the spiders are using. Quirky, humorous and quite delightful, this is a lovely story to read to young children, aged 2+. Plus is a great way to learn about all the different colours the spiders use. However, the educational content is cleverly intertwined with a fun story, which will make your little one laugh. My nephew adores this book and I will be looking for more by this author.

[Samantha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Splotchy creatures get a hold of some crayons. A large part of the book feels exclusive towards the red splotchy creature until he's put to use again in the final spread.

Eh, overall. This concept has been done better in other books. PreK-2.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple, short story that is good for ECE readers. It is about colors and color recognition, friendship, feelings, and acceptance. It is lots of fun and very interactive - great!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a lighter version of ONE by Kathryn Otoshi.

[Jason Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. It’s the story about two colors playing with crayons; they have fun but when one crayon breaks all sorts of bad things start to happen. Sometimes I love the text in a story more than the illustrations, but this book is the reverse opposite. I could have read this book without even seeing one word. The colors actually feel as if they were drawn with crayons and the full bleed effects are very aggressive and dangerous and leap off the heavy matte stock. I like books that marry story and medium well and this does both. As far as books go this has been one of my favorites I have read this year. I think this could be a good book to pair with a color/story activity letting kids draw their own stories and color them in.

[Gabriella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great story about friendship and colours. A red spider has a blue crayon and a blue spider has a red crayon. A colour war between the two colours and spiders results in a broken blue crayon and a shared red crayon. The spiders then work together to explore new colours. This was a simple story but fantastic to bring alive in a year 1 classroom with giant crayons really hooking the children into the ay sound in phonics. It is also excellent for cross curricular links into art and primary and secondary colours as well as discussing friendship and values.

[Mary Potter-Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My one year old absolutely loves this book! It does a good job introducing colors, but it is also rich in addressing emotions and friendship. Although the words are simple, the pictures carry the story along.

[Day · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very simple story about friendship and colors. I enjoyed the pictures.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

short and sweet
perfect for preschool

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two little critters, one red and one blue, each have a crayon. While the red one draws squiggly shapes with its blue crayon, the blue one does the same thing with its red crayon. They end up getting into a color war which results in a broken blue crayon and a shared red crayon, and some of the other colors join in to draw various shapes. The poor red one feels completely left out until they finally need the color red to complete their picture. Filled with all sorts of simple lessons about sharing, friendship, and getting along with others, the book is funny but this sort of thing has been done before. I still liked it and felt sorry for the red creature. Amazingly, the illustrations show that the individual crayons look as though they were just removed from a box of crayons with their fresh points ready to be used.

[Savannah Spaulding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is about two colors getting into a color war over who is the better color and end up creating a whole new color. This is the beginning of a colorful friendship. There is two creatures and they both have a crayon. Once they get into the war one of the colors breaks and the purple has to come in and help the creatures. Once the new color is created, the red crayon starts feeling left out until the end of the book comes and the other crayons need him. It has a nice concept of working together without having to push the moral value of a book on you.

[The Styling Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Crayon by Simon Rickerty – Quite a cute funny book about two friends who have a justified arguement and find a solution. Sometimes a little distance is needed. Was quite annoyed to realize yet again I’ve met a picture book that has a companion that I don’t have… shall be waiting a while before I can order it. Patience.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A red and blue spidery-type cute thing each have a red and blue crayon. After squabbling a bit, the blue crayon breaks. The purple guy comes along and they work together to explore new colors and build a house. A cute lesson in working together, cooperating, and (maybe?) caring for crayons. Recommended for preschool/kindergarten.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for my 2 year old. It does a great job of presenting emotions that she can relate to and understand. The super short text allowed her to memorize it and for us to occasionally expand on it to discuss how the characters are feeling.

[Cassie Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A powerhouse picture book about friendship for 0-3 year olds of either gender, which is big on impact and short on words. Full review here http://bookbirdy.com/2015/05/02/revie...

[marmix · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another review by my bunny:

"This book is about a red blob and a blue blob. They meet a purple blob. They get colorful.

The illustrations really tell the story because there are very few words. The pictures did all the talking.

I liked this book, preschoolers would like it."

[Kimberly]

This book is cute to read to your students because the pictures and words are bold so it strikes the student's attention. It's a good beginning book because the words are short and simple but it tells a cute story.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about colors. I can see this in a storytime kit about colors.

[Marcie · Rating 3 out of 5]

CLEL BELL WRITE that I can see using with preschool as a lead in to boxes of crayons. Perhaps Kindergarten and Preschool teachers could use it at the beginning of the year to talk about crayon care.

[Danica Midlil · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wacky. What are those guys?

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the idea a bunch, but the actual story kind of flopped and it definitely flopped when we tried it for Red, White and Blue storytime in July.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Adventures in color awareness.

[Elizabeth Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun picture book, my little boy loved this & enjoyed being able to read it to me.

[Cymiki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Friendship, sharing, colors all rolled into one simple book - LOVE! Thanks, CLEL, for putting this on your winners list.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this bunches; made me laugh when they were having their little hissy fit fight. Liked how it resolved itself in the end.

[Kendra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, but captures some of the emotions involved in making and keeping friends in a way kids will totally get.

[Amanda Connelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clever book. So cute.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Colors storytime
Josie x 3

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good for a read-a-loud.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun, simple, arty story about getting along with friends.