Book Review: The Day The Crayons Quit, by Drew Daywilt

 Why I picked it up

From the beginning it was the creative title that caught my attention, but the simple artwork caught my eye.  I love the personification of crayons.  I love the expressions on the crayons’ faces and the fact that they are picketing. It was obvious to me that this would grab the attention of young readers.  As teachers, we constantly tell students to hook the reader, well the cover “hooked” me!  I had to find out what was so terrible that the crayons felt they had to quit!

Why I finished

The cover was only the beginning.  Each page is a letter written by one of the crayons to the owner of the crayons, Duncan.  Unfortunately his WHOLE box of crayons have decided to quit for different reasons.  Each crayon has a unique personality and speaks with authority and conviction.  I was amused from beginning to end.

Who I would give it to

This book is perfect for primary students.  I read this book aloud to my son’s first grade class.  The reading began with one student telling me quite frankly that he HATED stories!  WHAT!?!?! In the end, that same student was begging for another story.  Every student in the class was entertained and engaged by this creative story.  I would give this book to any child 4-8 and their teachers and parents.

Integration ideas

Writers’ notebook

Primary students can draw a picture using all the crayons, like Duncan does at the end of the story.  Then write about their drawing.  Another suggestion is that students choose a crayon (or another school supply) and describe why it might be unhappy.

Writing

Have students choose a color, describe the color without using the name.

Students can list every color name/shade of the color chosen

Students can write a color poem