Michael Hall (8) (1954–)

This book has simple illustrations and words but has such a profound message. It is about a crayon that everyone says is Red, even their label says it. But no matter what the crayon draws it always comes out blue. The crayons teacher, parents, grandparents, and friends try to fix and force the crayon to concentrate hard enough and it would color red, but nothing seemed to work. Everyone was giving up on the crayon saying it was lazy and not trying hard enough, until one day a crayon named show more Berry changed the Red crayons perspective. The Berry crayon asked for red to color a Blue ocean, and even though at first hesitant, Red did it! From that point on Red couldn’t stop creating in blue and was doing a fantastic job. This book greatly reflects the life story of many transgenders who are told from a young age to concentrate and try hard to be a gender that may seem like it fits on the outside but is not the right one on the inside. This Red crayon from the start had a blue ink but everyone refused to accept it until one person embraced Red’s true gender (or color). A child at the youngest of ages can read or have this book read to them and will connect with Red and realize that your best self is when you are at your truest real color. show less

Although he worked hard and tried the best he could, Red just wasn't very successful as a crayon. He couldn't seem to live up to his label, always producing blue instead of red. Everyone had an opinion as to where the trouble lay, and what to do to fix it, but nothing seemed to help. The one day Berry came along and asked him to create a blue ocean. Finally, our crayon hero found something he could do, leading him to a better understanding of who he really was...

The third title I have read show more recently from author/artist Michael Hall, following upon Wonderfall and Frankencrayon, Red: A Crayons's Story taps into the recent fascination with crayons as picture-book heroes - see also: Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers' The Day the Crayons Quit, and its sequel - and offers an interesting exploration of issues of identity and social expectation. Although not explicitly addressed to any specific issue, I can see the narrative here working as a first exploration/explanation of something like transgender identity, or perhaps gender non-conformity. Because it only obliquely addresses such themes, it reminds me a bit of the Spanish picture-book, Bow-Wow-Meow, by Blanca Lacasa, which depicts a dog who enjoys cat activities. The artwork here, as in Hall's other books, is bold and colorful, with all of the crayon scribbles one would expect, given the story-line. Recommended to anyone looking for stories about individuals who (for whatever reason) don't seem to fit the role which society has allotted them. show less

"When a red-labeled crayon discovers he’s actually blue, he finds joy, ebullience and acceptance.

Red tries to be a quintessential red crayon, coloring fire trucks, strawberries, hearts and cherries, but no matter the object, they all turn blue. Fellow crayons begin to gossip. Some say he needs to press harder or grow out of it; others say he’s lazy or unintelligent. The other art supplies offer a makeover, taping and snipping away. But all fail to look beyond Red’s wrapper to what’s show more inside. Until Berry asks him to draw something blue. When Red succeeds, he feels free! He feels himself, and drawing becomes a delight. The personified crayons change their tune, claiming to have always known his true color. Digital illustrations, done in a graphic, cut-paper style in a primary palette, pop on their white or black backgrounds. And while the crayons themselves are not expressive, Hall’s compositions, manipulation of text, and simulated graphite and crayon markings convey a strong sense of emotion. Finding strength in his difference, Red captures that feeling of ease, self-acceptance and freedom in an exuberant, far-reaching sky.

Smartly designed and appealing, Red’s story offers much for discussion and affirmation. (Picture book. 4-8)" www.kirkusreviews.com show less

A cadre of stump-dwelling, hard-hat-wearing carpenter ants awaken to the boom of thunder and wonder what's outside. One anxious ant with an active imagination worries it's an aardvark. One curious ant decides to drill out to investigate. And three ants sway between them with imaginative enthusiasm or gentle worry. Each drill hole reveals a new color, and with it a ridiculous new detail related to the dreaded aardvark. The pages alternate between illustrating the ants inside the stump and show more depicting the fantastic creature lurking outside. Die-cut holes accumulate as the drilling progresses. show less