The Day the Crayons Quit
#1 of 2 in Crayons Series
on Goodreads (57,906)
What’s inside...
The book is about a box of crayons that decides to quit because they are fed up with how they're being used. This leads to an adventure as Duncan, the owner, tries to understand his colors and make things right. The story is filled with humor and is a colorful journey. Poor Duncan just wants to color, but when he opens his box of crayons, he finds letters from them saying they quit. Each crayon has its own complaint, such as Beige being tired of playing second fiddle to Brown, Blue needing a break from coloring water, and Pink wanting to be used. Even though Green has no complaints, Black wants to be used for more than just outlining, and Orange and Yellow are not speaking because each believes he is the true color of the sun. With the help of debut author Drew Daywalt and New York Times bestseller Oliver Jeffers, Duncan finds a playful and imaginative solution that gets the crayons back to doing what they do best, leading to fun and games for children. The book encourages children to laugh and play with their crayons in a whole new way, while addressing how Duncan resolves the crayons' grievances.
Discussion points
What do you think about the crayons deciding to quit? How would you feel if your crayons stopped working?
If you were a crayon, what color would you be and why?
What problems did the crayons have? How would you solve these problems if you were in their place?
How do the crayons express their feelings in the letters they write? Can you think of a time when you expressed your feelings in a similar way?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to think creatively by asking them to imagine themselves as one of the crayons. Discuss the different perspectives and feelings each color represents.
Utilize the letters from the crayons to discuss the importance of communication and expressing feelings. Highlight how the crayons communicate their issues and ask your child how they might communicate if they were in a similar situation.
Promote empathy by discussing how each crayon feels and why. Ask your child how they could help someone (or a crayon) if they felt the same way.
After reading, engage in a drawing activity where your child can draw and color a picture using the colors of the crayons from the book to help reinforce the themes discussed.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Empathy and Understanding
Explanation: The story demonstrates empathy by showing how different crayons feel overwhelmed or neglected, encouraging children to consider others' feelings.
Real-World Application: Children can apply this lesson by recognizing and respecting the feelings and perspectives of their peers and family members.
Example Lesson: Conflict Resolution
Explanation: Through the crayons expressing their issues, the book teaches children effective communication as a means of resolving disagreements.
Real-World Application: This can help children learn to vocalize their problems and find peaceful solutions during conflicts with others.
Example Lesson: Creativity and Innovation
Explanation: The crayons suggest new ways they can be used, which promotes thinking outside the box and valuing creative ideas.
Real-World Application: Children are encouraged to explore unconventional methods in their play, studies, and interactions.
Example Lesson: Appreciating Diversity
Explanation: The variety of crayon colors and uses exemplifies the beauty and strength in diversity, and the importance of every individual's contribution.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to value and embrace differences among their friends and in their community.
Example Lesson: Assertiveness
Explanation: The crayons stand up for themselves by writing letters to their owner, demonstrating how to assert one's feelings or opinions respectfully.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of expressing themselves and advocating for their needs in a respectful manner.