Red: A Crayon's Story

Description

A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times-bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone. Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age! Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries! Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue!

Michael Hall is an award-winning designer whose work has been widely recognised for its simple and engaging approach. He studied biochemistry and psychology at the University of Michigan and worked in biomedical research for several years before becoming a designer. He is the creator of the New York Times-bestselling My Heart Is Like a Zoo and the acclaimed Perfect Square, Cat Tale, and It's an Orange Aardvark! He is also the creative director of the Hall Kelley design firm. He lives with his family in St. Paul, Minnesota.

"[A] fresh approach to colors and feelings... Readers will share all the emotional elements of the tale-humor, despair, sadness, frustration, and finally, excitement." -- Booklist (starred review) "When a red-labeled crayon discovers he's actually blue, he finds joy, ebullience and acceptance... Hall's compositions ... convey a strong sense of emotion. Red captures [his feelings] ... in an exuberant, far-reaching sky. Smartly designed and appealing, Red's story offers much for discussion and affirmation." -- Kirkus Reviews "Crayon Red may be labeled red, but he colors blue... Once he lets go of his label and proclaims, "I'm blue!" everything turns around ... Smart design, bold colors, and sharp details keep the story both effective and amusing." -- Horn Book Magazine "Red is a crayon, and children will see his problem right away: his label reads 'red,' but he's blue... The overly cheerful encouragement Red endures will sound familiar to any child who's struggled to perform... Unexpectedly affecting." -- Publishers Weekly "Funny and poignant ... Hall's latest picture book is all about staying true to oneself, no matter what others say... Witty and heartwarming sure to become a favorite for children and adults alike." -- School Library Journal "Funny and clever, with a wonderful message about embracing who we are." -- Huffington Post "This story of mistaken identity has a simple yet profound premise that makes it feel fresh." -- USA Today "[A] smart, insightful coming-of-age story for [the] youngest readers." -- Shelf Awareness