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How to Draw the World: Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Making of a Children's Classic
Not yet published
Expected 20 Dec 27A biography of the book that inspired Prince to adopt purple as his signature color, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Richard Powers to become a writer, and countless other creative people to become artists.
A primer on the art and design of children's picture books, renowned children's literature scholar Philip Nel takes the reader on an illustrated tour through all that made Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon an astonishing from Harold's clear line, Johnson's carefully planned improvisation, the Garamond typeface, the real “Harolds” who inspired the title character, how Johnson overcame his editor's initially lukewarm reaction, to the role of the book's three colors (purple, brown, white), and whether or not the tan-hued Harold himself is a child of color.
In a series of microhistories that ripple outward from Harold and the Purple Crayon, 30 brief chapters explore the big ideas behind this small book. Johnson's classic raises questions about the nature of reality; creative expression during the Cold War; the implied audience of children's literature; abstract art versus representational art; and the color of crayons, ink, and people. All of these questions depend upon how children's picture books work--in this case, the apparent invisibility of Johnson's design choices, the limits imposed by the offset color lithography printing process, the history of the crayon, and the book's circulation into the hands of many real children around the world.
This small book explores the pleasures of looking closely. Indeed, picture books are many people's introduction to looking closely. As a portable gallery, the picture book is a democratic art form, requiring only a library card to view. In modeling the pleasures of sustained attention, this book invites you to look closely at art that interests you--picture books, of course, but any kind of art. When you look, listen, or read closely, what questions does the art invite?
A primer on the art and design of children's picture books, renowned children's literature scholar Philip Nel takes the reader on an illustrated tour through all that made Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon an astonishing from Harold's clear line, Johnson's carefully planned improvisation, the Garamond typeface, the real “Harolds” who inspired the title character, how Johnson overcame his editor's initially lukewarm reaction, to the role of the book's three colors (purple, brown, white), and whether or not the tan-hued Harold himself is a child of color.
In a series of microhistories that ripple outward from Harold and the Purple Crayon, 30 brief chapters explore the big ideas behind this small book. Johnson's classic raises questions about the nature of reality; creative expression during the Cold War; the implied audience of children's literature; abstract art versus representational art; and the color of crayons, ink, and people. All of these questions depend upon how children's picture books work--in this case, the apparent invisibility of Johnson's design choices, the limits imposed by the offset color lithography printing process, the history of the crayon, and the book's circulation into the hands of many real children around the world.
This small book explores the pleasures of looking closely. Indeed, picture books are many people's introduction to looking closely. As a portable gallery, the picture book is a democratic art form, requiring only a library card to view. In modeling the pleasures of sustained attention, this book invites you to look closely at art that interests you--picture books, of course, but any kind of art. When you look, listen, or read closely, what questions does the art invite?
- GenresNonfictionArtHistory
Kindle Edition
First published December 6, 2024
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About the author
Philip Nel
25 books45 followersBooks include Keywords for Children's Literature Second Edition (co-edited with Lissa Paul and Nina Christensen, NYU Press, 2021), Was the Cat in the Hat Black?: The Hidden Racism of Children's Literature and the Need for Diverse Books (Oxford UP, 2017), Crockett Johnson and Ruth Krauss: How an Unlikely Couple Found Love, Dodged the FBI, and Transformed Children's Literature (UP Mississippi, 2012), Keywords for Children's Literature (co-edited with Lissa Paul, NYU Press, 2011), Tales for Little Rebels: A Collection of Radical Children's Literature (co-edited with Julia Mickenberg, NYU Press, 2008), The Annotated Cat: Under the Hats of Seuss and His Cats (Random House, 2007), Dr. Seuss: American Icon (Continuum, 2004), The Avant-Garde and American Postmodernity: Small Incisive Shocks (UP Mississippi, 2002), J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter Novels: A Reader's Guide (Continuum, 2001), and Crockett Johnson's Barnaby (five volumes, co-edited with Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics, 2013-2024).
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 22, 2025
A delightful, and short book about Harold and the Purple Crayon and its author, Crockett Johnson He was a multi-talented man, working as an artist, author and a mathematician! It was fascinating to read the background of the simple book Harold and the Purple Crayon and it's impact on individuals and following children's books. Books I enjoyed, books I read to my children and books I shared with my students many can claim influences by Harold and his purple crayon. Harold and his crayon's influence have infiltrated theater, TV, comic strips and countless other media. Of course I had to go back and read Harold and His Purple Crayon and some of the other adventures about Harold and his famous crayon. I thoroughly enjoyed the letter from the editor explaining how some children were only coloring with purple crayons and the other crayons were going to waste!!
December 9, 2024
This is a 100+ page “critical” analysis of the classic children’s books about Harold and his purple crayon. Timed with the 70th anniversary of the first edition of the first book in what became a series, Nel’s exploration of the works from a surprising number of angles, is nearly always sympathetic and admiring of the creation.
I am too. Harold became a lifelong influence for me as well, reading and re-reading the first book 10-15 years after its first release. It took me back in time and it was a happy trip.
I suspect other fans of Harold will enjoy this quick read and will find themselves wanting to gift the original book — along with a purple crayon — to children today, many of whom seem to need encouragement to express their own unscripted, non-mass-media-dominated creativity.
I am too. Harold became a lifelong influence for me as well, reading and re-reading the first book 10-15 years after its first release. It took me back in time and it was a happy trip.
I suspect other fans of Harold will enjoy this quick read and will find themselves wanting to gift the original book — along with a purple crayon — to children today, many of whom seem to need encouragement to express their own unscripted, non-mass-media-dominated creativity.
February 2, 2025
How to Draw the World: Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Making of a Children's Classic is a thoroughly charming analysis, examination, deep-dive, or explication (call it what you will) of the iconic story of a boy who creates his world as he goes for a walk in the moonlight! Philip Nel describes his book as a biography (in 30 chapters) of Harold, and he posits intriguing questions (Is Harold Black?), and records factual technical info, too (the font used herein, and its history, as well as the colors chosen.) He exposes Johnson's intricate planning that allows the story to convince the readers of its spontaneity.
Find this book, and make sure that you have Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon next to you, also. You'll find yourself reading the original more than a few times as you follow Mr. Nel's loving critical exploration.
Find this book, and make sure that you have Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon next to you, also. You'll find yourself reading the original more than a few times as you follow Mr. Nel's loving critical exploration.
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February 22, 2025My favorite part of this book is the first few sentences in the introduction, where the author tells us that Prince’s favorite childhood book was “Harold and the Purple Crayon“.
October 22, 2025
Concise and thoughtful. An easy, enjoyable read.
November 8, 2025
Interesting exploration of Harold and the Purple Crayon. Some chapters were a bit meandering so I skimmed through. Overall an enjoyable short read.
March 27, 2025
How to Draw the World: Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Making of a Children's Classic by Philip Nel (2024) is an in depth reading and history of Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (1955).
The book covers the publication history including some technical aspects of it and changes made to reprints and translations. For instance the original print run was smaller than the later reissues. Harold on the cover was originally wearing white whereas in newer versions he's wearing blue. Originally Harold was colored with a 10% brown and in later versions he is much lighter (though not completely white; more on that on a future re-reading of the book).
In case anyone was wondering (besides me and Philip Nel), Harold's crayon is Pantone 247. But again, the color of the crayon changes in translations, even if the ink color doesn't.
On the biographical front, there's not a lot known about David Johnson Leisk beyond where he lived, his work in publishing, and his later years. But what is known and shared in the book is more than I knew before reading the book.
Included in the brief biographical sketch is a discussion of his home. It apparently shares similarities with what Harold draws in his first book adventure. Things that have been so expertly rendered down to mostly universal shapes and forms still are recognizable if you know the source. Again, this is something as an artist makes perfect sense, but as a long time reader (say probably 50 of my 52 years) of this book and series, never occurred to me.
On the interpretation front of the book's story, visuals and plot beats, I don't agree with Nel. I'm not saying he's wrong, just that he and I are coming to the book from different points of view and different literary specializations. I'll highlight our differences in that upcoming re-review / re-reading of Harold and the Purple Crayon. The beauty of the books is how open ended they appear to be, actively inviting a wide range of interpretation.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...
The book covers the publication history including some technical aspects of it and changes made to reprints and translations. For instance the original print run was smaller than the later reissues. Harold on the cover was originally wearing white whereas in newer versions he's wearing blue. Originally Harold was colored with a 10% brown and in later versions he is much lighter (though not completely white; more on that on a future re-reading of the book).
In case anyone was wondering (besides me and Philip Nel), Harold's crayon is Pantone 247. But again, the color of the crayon changes in translations, even if the ink color doesn't.
On the biographical front, there's not a lot known about David Johnson Leisk beyond where he lived, his work in publishing, and his later years. But what is known and shared in the book is more than I knew before reading the book.
Included in the brief biographical sketch is a discussion of his home. It apparently shares similarities with what Harold draws in his first book adventure. Things that have been so expertly rendered down to mostly universal shapes and forms still are recognizable if you know the source. Again, this is something as an artist makes perfect sense, but as a long time reader (say probably 50 of my 52 years) of this book and series, never occurred to me.
On the interpretation front of the book's story, visuals and plot beats, I don't agree with Nel. I'm not saying he's wrong, just that he and I are coming to the book from different points of view and different literary specializations. I'll highlight our differences in that upcoming re-review / re-reading of Harold and the Purple Crayon. The beauty of the books is how open ended they appear to be, actively inviting a wide range of interpretation.
https://pussreboots.com/blog/2025/com...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews