Module 2 - Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson

•  Book cover image
  
   
•  Book Summary:
  
  This story is about a young boy with a purple crayon who uses his imagination to go on an adventure starting with a moon and ending with a window and a way to rest and let go.
• APA Reference of Book:
  
  Johnson, C. (1955). Harold and the Purple Crayon. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers.
• Impressions:
  
  I love the simplicity of this book. It starts out with this boy and a purple crayon and shows us the power of imagination. I could not help but wonder if this was a wall in his house that he was drawing on and what his parents thought when they saw it. I think the illustrations are perfect for this story. I love how once the object was drawn Harold could climb up a tree or into bed, but the dragon he drew did not move. I like how the moon was in every shot just like the moon seems to be in reality. Mostly I appreciate that the book encourages the imagination and depicts it very well.
•  Professional Review:
  "An ingenious and original little picture story [Harold and the Purple Crayon] in which a small boy out for a walk--happily with a crayon in his hand--draws himself some wonderful adventures. It is all so simple and convincing, to make the moon where there should be a moon for a walk in the moonlight, and a path to keep one from getting lost. And so, on and on, with a tree in a forest and a "terribly frightening dragon" drawn to guard the apples--until Harold knows he should be getting to bed. With just a few more adventures, including making the bed, he is there! This is a little book that will be loved, for Crockett Johnson's wide-eyed little boy and his simple lines in purple crayon are the kind of illustration to stimulate the imagination. They will suggest similar drawing adventures." (Haviland, 1955).
  
  Haviland, V. (1955). [Review of Harold and the Purple Crayon, by C. Johnson]. Horn Book Magazine, 31, 362-363. Retrieved from http://www.hbook.com
• Library Uses: I would like to use this as a display for our bulletin boards that we do monthly. In honor of the story I would like children to create their own purple crayon drawing adventure and it will be hung up on the bulletin board for a month.