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Purple Crayons: The Art of Drawing a Life – From Harold's Journey to Self-Reliance, Hope, and Fulfillment
In this joyous and inventive rereading of the beloved children’s book Harold and the Purple Crayon , the author of How We Change (And Ten Reasons Why We Don’t) celebrates our inherent “sacred originality” and establishes a new framework for self-reliance. In 1955, Crockett Johnson introduced one of the world’s most beloved and enduring young adventurers, Harold and his purple crayon. Today, we need Harold and his penchant for creative solutions more than ever. In Purple Crayons, Ross Ellenhorn looks to Johnson’s classic for insights and answers that can help us understand our current condition and point the way towards solutions for healing. Purple Crayons tells a story about America then and now, about living one’s life as art; about the powers that block us from doing so, about the pull and perils of conformity; about serious play and too much seriousness, about what it means to feel alive inside and what deadens our existence. It’s also about 1955 in America, all that lay before and—presciently—all that lay ahead, as each of us struggles to draw meaningful and resilient existences on the blank pages—the future yet unlived—of our lives. This delightful, provocative adventure is a gift of kindness and love that encourages us and gives us hope. As he traces Harold’s journey, Ellenhorn offers insights into our “sacred originality”—the idea that each of our unique inner lives are worth nurturing and protecting, and the perseverance, courage, connection, and community necessary to sustain them. Engaging, thoughtful, wise—and illustrated throughout with drawings from the original Harold— Purple Crayons transcends the current divides separating us, reminding us that our fulfillment rests on tapping into what is original about ourselves, finding ways to express our originality, and understanding that doing so is rooted in who we are as Americans.
- GenresNonfictionSelf Help
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 1, 2022
17 people are currently reading
170 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
February 1, 2023
Book number 13 for 2023.
My first thought is, "Wow. All that from a children's picture book!"
Honestly, at first I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But Mr. Ellenhorn was persistent, and has some good ideas, I think, in this. And, based on what I learned about Crockett Johnson in the process, he may not be all that far off in his evaluation of Harold and his crayon.
It is interesting to see other people's reactions to the book. I saw anywhere from one to five stars. One person had a one line assessment that used the word "awful." A three-star review said it was a reach, but still gave it three stars. The five star review used words like "inspiring" and "thought-provoking." I think those words are fitting. Still, I only give four stars because I don't think it is "amazing."
I believe, as does Ross Ellenhorn, that we can learn a lot from Harold and his crayon. There is much to be said for originality, here, and resisting the normal. There is also a strong sense of quick-thinking, here.
Initially, Ellenhorn even makes mention of the graphic on the title page. Harold stands with his crayon, a mess of squiggles all over the page, with his hand to his chin, in a very thoughtful pose. Suddenly, as Harold draws a straight line, he decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. Only there isn't any moon, so the first thing he does is draw the moon.
Interestingly, that moon is the only thing that stays with him all the way through the book. It is a constant in Harold's story.
Ellenhorn calls this book a "celebration" of " sacred originality." He says that each of "unique inner lives is worth nurturing and protecting," and claims that this is Johnson's central or core message. He uses quotes from several jazz musicians throughout the book, and cites jazz as a major influence in this concept of "sacred originality." And, as a musician, I can appreciate that jazz is probably the ultimate in originality. It is creating on the spot, so to speak.
There is much made of playing and imagination, qualities that are not as encouraged once we reach a certain age. No one really knows what that age is, but people in my generation tend to mock adults who engage in such things. Not me . . . I'm big on playing and imagination. I like this quote on playing: "When you play, you are stepping into the unknown, since you can't know what's ahead until you create it."
He warns against idolatry, which is slightly different than what a religious person might think. This concept comes from the scene when Harold draws a dragon to protect the apple tree until the fruit is ready to eat. But then he focuses so much on the dragon that he forgets its purpose and feels threatened by it, which causes him to back up, trembling, and accidentally draw the sea behind him. Here, he quotes Erich Fromm, who says, "An idol is the figure to which a person has transferred his own strength and powers. The more powerful the idol grows, the more impoverished the individual himself becomes."
But Harold recovers from this, and utilizing the aforementioned quick thinking, draws himself a boat, and then a sail. He is back in control. And, as we look at such scenes (later recreated when Harold falls off of the mountain he drew and subsequently draws a hot air balloon), we must remember that it is Harold who has the power, here, not the crayon. The crayon is just a tool.
There are chapters on hoping, on dignity, which is an essential human right ("When you place a price tag on humans, you're assaulting their dignity."), on loneliness and relating, and on returning and homesickness.
He also delves into the nature of authoritarian governments/leaders in one chapter. This comes from the part where Harold draws a policeman, hoping said policeman would help him find the way to his bedroom. That comes after a terrifying scene where Harold draws an entire city of towering buildings full of windows, only to realize that none of them is his window.
There is so much to unpack, here, more than I can do in a brief review. This book will remain on my shelf, perhaps to be read again. But I will leave with one quote from the section toward the end of the book.
"Living does not take a purple crayon. Livingness does, however.
I'll be searching for my own purple crayon.
My first thought is, "Wow. All that from a children's picture book!"
Honestly, at first I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But Mr. Ellenhorn was persistent, and has some good ideas, I think, in this. And, based on what I learned about Crockett Johnson in the process, he may not be all that far off in his evaluation of Harold and his crayon.
It is interesting to see other people's reactions to the book. I saw anywhere from one to five stars. One person had a one line assessment that used the word "awful." A three-star review said it was a reach, but still gave it three stars. The five star review used words like "inspiring" and "thought-provoking." I think those words are fitting. Still, I only give four stars because I don't think it is "amazing."
I believe, as does Ross Ellenhorn, that we can learn a lot from Harold and his crayon. There is much to be said for originality, here, and resisting the normal. There is also a strong sense of quick-thinking, here.
Initially, Ellenhorn even makes mention of the graphic on the title page. Harold stands with his crayon, a mess of squiggles all over the page, with his hand to his chin, in a very thoughtful pose. Suddenly, as Harold draws a straight line, he decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. Only there isn't any moon, so the first thing he does is draw the moon.
Interestingly, that moon is the only thing that stays with him all the way through the book. It is a constant in Harold's story.
Ellenhorn calls this book a "celebration" of " sacred originality." He says that each of "unique inner lives is worth nurturing and protecting," and claims that this is Johnson's central or core message. He uses quotes from several jazz musicians throughout the book, and cites jazz as a major influence in this concept of "sacred originality." And, as a musician, I can appreciate that jazz is probably the ultimate in originality. It is creating on the spot, so to speak.
There is much made of playing and imagination, qualities that are not as encouraged once we reach a certain age. No one really knows what that age is, but people in my generation tend to mock adults who engage in such things. Not me . . . I'm big on playing and imagination. I like this quote on playing: "When you play, you are stepping into the unknown, since you can't know what's ahead until you create it."
He warns against idolatry, which is slightly different than what a religious person might think. This concept comes from the scene when Harold draws a dragon to protect the apple tree until the fruit is ready to eat. But then he focuses so much on the dragon that he forgets its purpose and feels threatened by it, which causes him to back up, trembling, and accidentally draw the sea behind him. Here, he quotes Erich Fromm, who says, "An idol is the figure to which a person has transferred his own strength and powers. The more powerful the idol grows, the more impoverished the individual himself becomes."
But Harold recovers from this, and utilizing the aforementioned quick thinking, draws himself a boat, and then a sail. He is back in control. And, as we look at such scenes (later recreated when Harold falls off of the mountain he drew and subsequently draws a hot air balloon), we must remember that it is Harold who has the power, here, not the crayon. The crayon is just a tool.
There are chapters on hoping, on dignity, which is an essential human right ("When you place a price tag on humans, you're assaulting their dignity."), on loneliness and relating, and on returning and homesickness.
He also delves into the nature of authoritarian governments/leaders in one chapter. This comes from the part where Harold draws a policeman, hoping said policeman would help him find the way to his bedroom. That comes after a terrifying scene where Harold draws an entire city of towering buildings full of windows, only to realize that none of them is his window.
There is so much to unpack, here, more than I can do in a brief review. This book will remain on my shelf, perhaps to be read again. But I will leave with one quote from the section toward the end of the book.
"Living does not take a purple crayon. Livingness does, however.
I'll be searching for my own purple crayon.
November 28, 2022
It’s a reach.
April 13, 2024
I’m not usually a self-help book lover, but this one has such a clever conceit, it was hard to resist loving it. Ross Ellenhorn analyzes the children’s classic, ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon,’ to show how Harold uses the tools at hand to create a full life for himself. Harold starts life with nothing but his drawing tool, creates a moon to “hold” him, a road and a boat to travel with, animals to share a picnic with, and ends up his own bed. Ellenhorn uses these development, with a liberal dose of modernist thinkers, to create mini-lessons about how we can use human creativity and ingenuity to construct rich, fearless lives for ourselves and others. I’ll be thinking about Harold and his teachings for a long time.
December 25, 2022
Struggle to get started. Over analytical work that dissects my favorite childhood book. Some good quotes and advice scattered in the book, however not consistent enough to make it a self help book. Was hoping to like it better.
March 9, 2023
Throughout the book the author presents his social opinions as if they are facts.
March 20, 2023
I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did.
August 14, 2022
This inspiring and thought-provoking exploration on restoring one’s creativity uses Crockett Johnson’s beloved 1955 children’s story Harold and the Purple Crayon to offer an accessible path to revitalizing creativity. The original whimsical illustrations introduce themes of play, hope, and self-determination. Its conversational tone safely navigates deep concerns of risk and anxiety, even as it asserts that one can turn disasters into solutions with fortitude, grit and resilience.
To wander curiously fosters imagination that molds and crafts a person’s unique experience. Holding the purple crayon allows the creator to navigate life and determine their destiny. The simple concepts in the children’s story are taken to new and rather spiritual depths. Satisfying creative urges serves to return an individual to who they once were and determine a path forward. As he envisions his own particular and uncommon path, Harold keeps his eye on the moon at long last coming home. Set sail for new horizons with Harold.
Dr. Ellenborn (sociologist, psychotherapist ) gently and tenderly challenges readers to live with and as art in order to feel alive inside, ultimately coming home to one’s own self.
To wander curiously fosters imagination that molds and crafts a person’s unique experience. Holding the purple crayon allows the creator to navigate life and determine their destiny. The simple concepts in the children’s story are taken to new and rather spiritual depths. Satisfying creative urges serves to return an individual to who they once were and determine a path forward. As he envisions his own particular and uncommon path, Harold keeps his eye on the moon at long last coming home. Set sail for new horizons with Harold.
Dr. Ellenborn (sociologist, psychotherapist ) gently and tenderly challenges readers to live with and as art in order to feel alive inside, ultimately coming home to one’s own self.
May 11, 2023
Harold's series is assuredly one of my childhood favorites that I treasure because it is about creating, creativity, and living an inner life.
When I saw the book on the shelf, I immediately recognized the color, and font so I was delighted to see someone as inspired by the text as I am. Reading, it is clear that the author is very grounded in psychological ideas which did lend itself to feeling over-analyzing a simple, splendid story. That reminded me of the spat of books with Winnie the Pooh as springboard. If one isn't too disappointed in the analogy, the author puts to good use the images from the book to explain specific principles of self-determination, -reliance, and -expression. The creative urge as vital individuality which in turn is vital to "the Pursuit of Happiness".
The more competence, the more confidence, the more one believes they can succeed which leeds to accept more, and more difficult challenges, which raises competence... And the cycle continues.
Self-belief is the center of hope.
Harold is colored in a different shade. The crayon--an object of Art-- is the substance out of which he creates everything, outlined, not filled. The author concludes how closely this links to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey structure.
When I saw the book on the shelf, I immediately recognized the color, and font so I was delighted to see someone as inspired by the text as I am. Reading, it is clear that the author is very grounded in psychological ideas which did lend itself to feeling over-analyzing a simple, splendid story. That reminded me of the spat of books with Winnie the Pooh as springboard. If one isn't too disappointed in the analogy, the author puts to good use the images from the book to explain specific principles of self-determination, -reliance, and -expression. The creative urge as vital individuality which in turn is vital to "the Pursuit of Happiness".
The more competence, the more confidence, the more one believes they can succeed which leeds to accept more, and more difficult challenges, which raises competence... And the cycle continues.
Self-belief is the center of hope.
Harold is colored in a different shade. The crayon--an object of Art-- is the substance out of which he creates everything, outlined, not filled. The author concludes how closely this links to Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey structure.
September 17, 2024
to be honest, I didn't understand everything in this book. I won't pretend to even understand most of it. What i did understand though, i found incredibly interesting. Harld and the purple crayon, a picture book that this book is based off of was written during a political crisis similar to the one we are facing today. It urged people to fight against conformity and authoritarian rule by taking responsiblility to solve their own problems themselves. this book takes each element of a Harold and the purple crayon and comapares in to a psychological need within us. Most of it went over my head, but i'm trying to learn and improve. I filed this under becoming a movie in 2024 (booklist queen 2024)
January 13, 2023
The author analyzes the drawings of Harold from the classic children’s book. You need to have read or be familiar with that book to understand this one. It was interesting the way the author shared the journey Harold had or drew and then how and why he did that and how we can interpret it. The drawings from the original book support the narrative about why Harold did what he did. I liked the “playing” chapter the best. The book isn’t too long but it often went into too detailed an analysis without enough suggestions for the reader to use the interpretations, but I did take away a few ideas to draw my best life.
August 8, 2023
I'm now recommending this book to everyone I know. I met it at exactly the right time in my life. Using the framework of a well-loved chldren's book, a delightful, creative, philosophical look at play, personal agency, and living out our uniqueness -- our "livingness," as Ellenhorn calls it -- in relation to our world and other people, even and maybe especially in this cultural time when the push and pull toward uniformity is so strong.
March 2, 2023
I looked forward to reading this book though it wasn't exactly what I expected when I did. Ellenhorn uses Johnson's book to take readers through an exploration of the deeper meaning behind Harold and his purple drawing. I appreciated this but felt some of the chapters could have stayed more on the focal points.
July 26, 2023
Not a recent favorite book to recommend, but I did like "Harold and the Purple Crayons" a children's book which is the message of this small nonfiction book. The confusing and far-fetched interpretations of the story are based on the author's experience in social sciences, mental health, and psychiatry.
May 3, 2024
This is a hard book to describe. But I thought it was really so good. From the back cover: "Unexpected, provocative, and delightful, Puple Crayons encourages us to live our lives as art. It teaches us about serious play and too much seriousness, and about what it means to feel alive inside." It was thought-provoking but readable at the same time.
March 12, 2025
This book was really eye opening. Harold and the purple crayon was my favorite book as a child. I couldn’t figure out why I was so happy as a child, but I feel so lost and disconnected from the world as an adult. This book helped open my eyes to what I was missing— and how I can tap back into it.
From the deepest parts of my soul,
Thank you, Ross Ellenhorn
From the deepest parts of my soul,
Thank you, Ross Ellenhorn
February 1, 2023
Took me a bit to get into this one. But it was definitely interesting. "Hey, I'm going to do a psychological analysis of a classic picture book!" Once I did get into the book, I did appreciate the insights that the author illuminated with his own purple crayon.
September 4, 2024
A little more esoteric than I was expecting. If you're super into philosophy / psychology, go for it. If you just loved the book 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' as a child... you can probably skip this one.
December 23, 2022
I tried. Really I did. This was just awful and I could not get through it.
January 17, 2023
As a child one of my childhood favorites was Harold and the Purple Crayon. Ellenhorn talks who the book influenced and gleans bits of spirituality and philosophy in the work.
February 14, 2023
The author puts Harold and his purple crayon in their historical setting and gives us some advice for the present day. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
September 13, 2024
Ross Ellenhorn is trained as a sociologist, psychologist, and social worker, so this is non-fiction look into mind of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" author.
October 2, 2024
I would read this book ten million times
May 6, 2025
I didn’t fully finish this book, but I really enjoyed the philosophical inquiry into the nature of play, curiosity, and imagination.
June 13, 2025
It’s a lot of deep stretches into religion and politics which I wasn’t expecting
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews