Synopses & Reviews
A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in the new picture book by the
New York Times-bestselling creator of
My Heart Is Like a Zoo and
It's an Orange Aardvark! Funny, insightful, and colorful,
Red: A Crayon's Story, by Michael Hall, 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! 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!
Review
“When a red-labeled crayon discovers hes actually blue, he finds joy, ebullience and acceptance. . . . Halls compositions . . . convey a strong sense of emotion. Red captures [his feelings] . . . in an exuberant, far-reaching sky. Smartly designed and appealing, Reds story offers much for discussion and affirmation.” Kirkus Reviews
Review
“Crayon Red may be labeled red, but he colors blue. . . . Once he lets go of his label and proclaims, “Im blue!” everything turns around . . . Smart design, bold colors, and sharp details keep the story both effective and amusing.” Horn Book Magazine
Review
“Red is a crayon, and children will see his problem right away: his label reads ‘red, but hes blue. . . . The overly cheerful encouragement Red endures will sound familiar to any child whos struggled to perform. . . . Unexpectedly affecting.” Publishers Weekly
Review
“[A] fresh approach to colors and feelings. . . . Readers will share the all the emotional elements of the talehumor, despair, sadness, frustration, and finally, excitement.” Booklist (starred review)
Review
“Funny and poignant . . . Halls 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
Review
“[A] smart, insightful coming-of-age story for [the] youngest readers.” Shelf Awareness
Review
“This story of mistaken identity has a simple yet profound premise that makes it feel fresh.” USA Today
Synopsis
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
Synopsis
This is a story about a crayon I know.
I wrote it for you.
About the Author
Michael Hall was once a scientist and has always been a Frankenstein fan. He is the creator of several acclaimed picture books for children, including
My Heart Is Like a Zoo,
Perfect Square, and Its an
Orange Aardvark! He lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Michael Hall was once a scientist and has always been a Frankenstein fan. He is the creator of several acclaimed picture books for children, including My Heart Is Like a Zoo, Perfect Square, and Its an Orange Aardvark! He lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota.