The Day the Crayons Quit

Written by: Drew Daywalt
Illustrated by: Oliver Jeffers

Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: We quit!
Beige is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown. Blue needs a break from coloring all that water, while Pink just wants to be used. Green has no complaints, but Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking to each other. What is Duncan to do?

Summary is from the jacket published by Philomel Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group.

This book is so funny and so clever that the night I brought it home, my entire family passed it around the dinner table taking turns reading it out loud – twice! It is so enjoyable and the illustration are a beautiful, perfect match! Definitely a must read!

Discussion/Project Ideas:

1. Within the complaints of the crayons, we learn a lot about what Duncan is interested in. What would your crayons (or toys) say about you?

2. A few of the crayons mention why they are used a lot or why they feel like a “favorite”. What draws you to certain colors or toys more than others? What do your favorite colors or toys have in common and how are they different?

3. Choose four colors of crayons and describe in detail how each of them makes you feel. If you have more than one feeling for one color, describe them all.

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