Get Red! An Adventure in Color [Hardcover]

Tony Porto (Author), 3CD (Illustrator)

Book Description

Grade Level: 1 and up

Every kid can relate to the typical homework task of doing a report about Mars. But when Get Red!'s young narrator turns to his trusty red crayon - which has grown less and less cooperative the more he's used it - he discovers that it has run away! So begins a fresh and zany narrative about the many talents and guises of the color red.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This first outing by three advertising writers uses stock photos to deliver a one-two punch: a funny school-problem story and a wry "infomercial" for the color red. The nameless narrator, who is never pictured, tells of his talking red crayon now AWOL which started the school year teaching the boy fun facts about its hue and helping him color art projects. The boy's reminiscences and accompanying illustrations chart the crayon's growing distress (and diminishing size). Instead of using photos shot specifically for the book, the creators build the story around stock photos, which creates a fragmentary feel. Red-eyed frogs, blinking traffic lights and character shots of human faces flash one after the other like images in a 15-second television spot. The text charges along across the pages, while factoids run along the bottom. Often the juxtapositions result in confusion: for instance, when the crayon "boasted of red friends who made it big in sports," the page divides into a photo of a matador (top) and a baseball (below), with a factoid about the ball's 108 stitches ("If you unraveled the red thread and stretched it out, it would be seven feet four inches long!") Classmates, clerks at checkout counters, even family members make an appearance, then disappear. Too sophisticated for a concept book, this volume may be best suited to Gen-Xers who will admire this creative team's eye for arresting photos and design. Ages 6-10. (Sept.)
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 1-3-A zany story about a child (whose name and gender are unspecified) and a talking red crayon. The crayon has been worn down by helping the student create many projects, and as he becomes stubbier, his mood becomes decidedly less friendly, and he takes to hiding from the student. Now that the youngster needs him to complete an overdue project about Mars, it seems as though the crayon has disappeared. When the narrator threatens to color Mars purple, the red crayon returns out of pride, and at project and book's end, only a remnant of the crayon wrapper remains. Just then, the student's purple crayon becomes animated, bragging about its symbolism of royalty and conveying the feeling that this crayon, too, has a mind of its own. As the various projects are discussed, readers are treated to exciting, large color photos of numerous red items. From an erupting volcano to the head of a rooster to the red paint on the face of a Samburu warrior to the "Love" sculpture in Philadelphia, young readers are made aware of the uses of the color in art and nature. The concept of a talking, wayward crayon is sure to produce chuckles. A few facts relating to the red items pictured appear at the bottom of each page. The hand-lettered text adds to the fun by making it seem as though it were really written by the youngster. An attractive, imaginative presentation.
Lynda Ritterman, Atco Elementary School, Waterford, NJ
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown; 1st edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316609404
• ISBN-13: 978-0316609401
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,033,562 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Color Red and so much more... (a reading teacher), September 9, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Get Red! An Adventure in Color (Hardcover)

This is a wonderfully imaginative book that will please both kids and adults who will be requested to read it again and again. Of course, I may be prejudiced--red is my FAVORITE color. While the main story recounts a common kid's dilemma--a school report on Mars is due and the red crayon has disappeared--the tiny encapsulated text at the bottom of the page presents facts interesting to both children and adults. For example, the red stitching in a baseball, if unwound, equals 7 feet and the text goes on to present a mini-history of the Red Stocking, then Red Sox baseball team. The pictures, which reflect both the story and the encapsulated information, are big, bright and to the point--jumping off the page in not only vivid red, but other primary colors, as well. While the story and information are presented in a picture book format, the encapsulated text will be of interest to students up to 6th grade and will be a welcome change from the chapter and information books most upper elementary school children read. Well, Mr. Porto and 3CD, we're just waiting for more colors: purple? blue? yellow? Let's hear some more about the fascinating primary colors and their uses all around us.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best children's book of 2002, April 17, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Get Red! An Adventure in Color (Hardcover)

Excellent choice for a chidren's library, even my older kids loved this book, clever, innovative, can't wait for the color purple.

5.0 out of 5 stars Go out and "Get Red", October 24, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Get Red! An Adventure in Color (Hardcover)

Get Red is a fun book with an engaging story. I appreciated that the book had fun facts at the bottom of each page that I could share with my kids. I even learned some red things my self. The book is beautifully designed and illustrated. I am looking forward to reading the next color to my kids. I highly recommend this book for family reading.