The Picture Book Perspective: The Day the Crayons Came Home


Hello, wonderful readers!

Today we’re getting our hands colorful with The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by the ever-brilliant Oliver Jeffers. This hilarious follow-up to The Day the Crayons Quit brings back our vibrant friends, each with their own stories, adventures, and, let’s be honest, more than a few grievances.

Historical and Cultural Perspectives

Released in 2015, The Day the Crayons Came Home continued the unique storytelling that made its predecessor a hit. Through the format of postcards, Drew Daywalt explores themes of belonging, creativity, and adventure, while Oliver Jeffers’ quirky illustrations bring the crayons’ personalities to life.

This book arrived at a time when children's literature was increasingly embracing humor and relatability, connecting with kids by reflecting their own lives and imaginations. The whimsical nature of crayons writing postcards from their various escapades taps into a child’s natural curiosity and sense of wonder, making it an instant classic.

Social-Emotional Content

Much like the first book, The Day the Crayons Came Home is rich with social-emotional lessons. Each crayon shares its own unique experience and feelings, from Neon Red Crayon's epic journey around the world to Pea Green Crayon’s existential crisis and desire for a name change. These stories provide a great opportunity to discuss feelings of neglect, the desire for change, and the joy of reunion.

The book subtly encourages children to think about empathy and acceptance. It’s a humorous reminder that everyone, even a crayon, has a story and deserves to be heard and understood.

Using the Book for Kids: Tips for Parents and Teachers

  1. Storytelling and Creativity: Encourage children to create their own stories about where their crayons might have gone if they could go on adventures. This can be a fun writing or drawing activity that sparks creativity.

  2. Understanding Emotions: Use the crayons’ stories to talk about different emotions. Ask children how each crayon might feel and if they’ve ever felt the same way. This can be a great starting point for emotional awareness and empathy.

  3. Geography and Exploration: Neon Red Crayon's travels can be a fun way to introduce basic geography. Trace the crayon’s journey on a map and talk about each location it visited.

  4. Problem-Solving: Discuss how each crayon finds its way back home and what problems they had to solve along the way. This can help kids think about problem-solving in their own lives.

  5. Color Recognition and Art: Use the book as a springboard for color recognition activities. Have kids find each crayon color in their environment or use the book as inspiration for a crayon-themed art project.

Humorous Takeaway

As adults, we can all relate to the idea of feeling overlooked or wanting to embark on an adventure. Whether it's wishing we could change our name from Pea Green to Esteban the Magnificent or dreaming of an epic journey like Neon Red, there's a bit of crayon wisdom for everyone. So next time you're feeling a bit blue (or even beige), just remember, there's a whole box of adventures waiting for you.

Until next time, keep your crayons sharp and your imaginations even sharper, and remember:

Where There's A. Williams, There's A Way.

Happy coloring!

Adam

To buy your own copy (and support this blog) click here



Do you have a picture book for Adam to review? Email us your suggestion at beastlybanterblog@gmail.com

About the Author

Adam Williams is a dedicated elementary school teacher with a passion for literacy and children's literature. Married to Leigha, Adam is a proud father to a son named Tate and a daughter named Emery. He is known for his engaging read-aloud videos on his YouTube channel, "Where There's A. Williams, There's A Way," where he brings picture books to life for his audience. The Picture Book Perspective is published every Sunday. In his blog, he explores the historical and cultural contexts of picture books, delves into their social-emotional content, and offers insights for parents and teachers on how to use these books effectively with children. 

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