Drew Daywalt

There is a stack of letters addressed to Duncan, and each letter is written by one of his crayons. Each crayon expresses its feelings in its respective letter. Some are frustrated, some feel worn out, and some feel left out. Finally, after reading all of the letters, Duncan uses every single color in a single drawing and gets an A+ for creativity.

I saw this book and knew I wanted to read and review it because I absolutely adored another one in the same series that I had reviewed last week. show more I give this book five stars as well because it is hilarious and clever. For instance, each crayon uses an adjective to describe itself when signing its own letter, but Beige Crayon uses "beige" as its own adjective. People do this in real life whenever they want to describe something plain or not that exciting. Peach is hiding in the crayon box because he says that Duncan peeled off its wrapping, and now he looks naked and doesn't have any underwear. I laughed at this line. It is so funny. Just like in "Love From the Crayons," Peach Crayon is hiding. I admired this sort of interconnectedness among the books in this series. Another thing I liked about this book is the fact that the boy got an A+ when he included every single color in his drawing. Kids can pick up on this message about inclusion and how important variety is in life. We are all different. Aside from every person having his or her own physical characteristics, we each also have our own personality, as shown with the crayons. When we all come together for the greater good, we can accomplish great things. Everyone is beautiful and important! show less

When Duncan goes to use his crayons for an art assignment, he discovers that they have absconded, leaving him a packet of letters expressing their discontent. From Red, who can't get a break even on holidays - all of those Christmas Santas and Valentine's Day hearts - to Pink, who objects to never being used - does Duncan consider him a girls' color, he wonders? - all of the crayons have reasons for quitting. Orange and Yellow are arguing about which is the color of the sun (and demanding show more that Duncan choose), while Blue has been used so frequently he's little more than a stub. Only Green is content, although he pleads with Duncan to resolve the great Yellow-Orange dispute...

An entertaining look at the crayon box, this picture-book from first-time author Drew Daywalt and veteran artist Oliver Jeffers is a winner. I can readily understand why it has been optioned for an animated movie. I appreciated the humor in the crayons' various letters, and the way that their individual concerns reflect how children would (most likely) use them. I also appreciated the underlying message in Duncan's reaction to the letters, the way he takes the crayons' concerns on board, and decides to do something a little different with his next art project. Although I tend to prefer some of Jeffers' other work, aesthetically speaking, his illustrations here are well matched to the story, with a 'scribbly' feeling that approximates a child's own early artistic efforts. Of course, the sign held up by the pink crayon, on the rear cover - "Down with this sort of thing," a clear reference to the Father Ted television show - is a nice little touch! Recommended to young would-be artists, as well as to all children who appreciate stories with an offbeat sense of humor. show less

The Day the Crayons Quit is a funny picture book about a boy named Duncan who discovers that his crayons have written him letters explaining why they are unhappy. Each crayon has its own unique personality, which makes the story entertaining and engaging for young readers. The illustrations add to the humor and help bring the crayons to life. I think this would make a great read-aloud because it encourages students to think about different perspectives and feelings in a fun and creative way. show more It could also be used as a writing activity where students write letters from the point of view of an object. This is a book that many students would enjoy reading more than once. show less

I really enjoyed The Day the Crayons Quit. The idea of crayons writing letters to a boy to complain about how he treats them is clever and funny. Each crayon has its own personality and distinct complaints. Some feel overworked, others feel ignored or underused. The humor works great for kids, and as an adult reading aloud I found myself laughing at the silly jokes from the crayons. The illustrations by Oliver Jeffers are playful, colorful, and bring each crayon to life in a way that show more captures a child’s imagination. On top of being funny, the book encourages creativity and empathy by showing that everyone even a crayon deserves to be heard and appreciated. For me this book stands out as a fun, imaginative story that also sneaks in important ideas about fairness and respecting others, and I think kids and grown-ups can get a lot out of it. show less