The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

Author: Drew Daywalt

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers

Genre: Fantasy

Awards: ALA Notable Children's Book (2014), Wanda Gág Read Aloud Book Award (2013), CBI Book of the Year Award (2014), Texas Bluebonnet Award (2015), NCTE/CLA Notable Children's Book in the English Language Arts (2014), Great Lakes Great Books Award (2015), Connecticut's Nutmeg Book Award (2015), IRA Teachers' Choices Reading List (2014), IRA Children's Choices Reading List (2014), Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (2014), ISLMA Monarch Award (2015), Vermont Red Clover Award (2015), Zilveren Griffel (2015), New Hampshire Ladybug Picture Book Award Nominee (2015), Keystone to Reading Book Award (2015), Donna Norvell Oklahoma Book Award (2015), Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award (2015), Grand Canyon Reader Award (2015), North Dakota Flicker Tale Children's Book Award (2015), Wisconsin Golden Archer Award (2015), Nevada Young Readers' Award (2015), Mississippi Magnolia Book Award (2015), Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Award Nominee (2016), California Young Reader Medal Nominee (2016), Bill Martin, Jr. Picture Book Award (2015), MASL Show Me Readers Award Nominee (2016), North Carolina Children's Book Award (2015), Children's Choice Book Award (2014), Children's Choice Book Award Finalist (2014), Buckeye Children's Book Award (2015), Utah Beehive Book Award Nominee (2015), Commonwealth Club of California Book Awards Finalist (2013), E.B. White Read Aloud Award

Grade(s): K-4th

Summary: This is a hilarious book about a boy named Duncan. Duncan only wanted to draw a picture, but when he took out his box of crayons, he only found a box of angry letters instead. Red was tired of coloring things for the holidays. Purple was irritated that Duncan couldn't color inside the lines with him. Beige was sad that Duncan didn't even call him by his real name and that Brown got to color bears, ponies, and puppies. Gray crayon was a tired crayon worn out from having to color all of the big things like elephants and whales. White was feeling empty because Duncan only colors with him on white paper and he isn't even seen. Black hates to be the outline of everything. Green crayon seems to be okay with coloring trees and crocodiles, but is a little annoyed by Orange and Yellow who are in a disagreement over who should be used to color the sun. Blue crayon has become stumpy from Duncan using him so much since he is his favorite color. Pink is upset because is isn't being used due to Duncan thinking its a girl's color and peach was upset because Duncan had peeled all of its paper off leaving it naked!! Ultimately, Duncan felt bad and decided to draw a huge picture using all of his crayons and granting all of their wishes. He got an A for coloring and an A+ for creativity.

My Thoughts: This is amongst my favorite picture books as I find it hilarious and witty. Although I don't see any major purpose to use this book in a lesson, I do feel like it would be a great read-aloud book and may even spark some creativity within my students. I love that the illustrations were done with color and that each crayon had written its own letter to Duncan with appropriate complaints. I will definitely be reading this book to my students for many years to come.