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Michael Hall

Red: A Crayon's Story Hardcover – Picture Book, February 3, 2015

by Michael Hall (Author, Illustrator)

1,876 ratings

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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!

Reading age

3 - 7 years, from customers
Print length

40 pages
Language

English
Grade level

Preschool - 3
Lexile measure

AD380L
Dimensions

9 x 0.25 x 12 inches
Publisher

Greenwillow Books
Publication date

February 3, 2015
ISBN-10

9780062252074
ISBN-13

978-0062252074
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Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

SELF-AWARENESS; SELF-ESTEEM; SOCIAL AWARENESS

Review

“[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 [and] 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

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0062252070
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Greenwillow Books; Illustrated edition (February 3, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 40 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780062252074
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0062252074
Reading age ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7 years, from customers
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ AD380L
Grade level ‏ : ‎ Preschool - 3
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.6 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 0.25 x 12 inches

Customer Reviews:
1,876 ratings

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Michael Hall

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Since Michael Hall — the New York Times bestselling author/illustrator of eleven picture books including Red: A Crayon’s Story, My Heart Is Like a Zoo, and Perfect Square — believes that writing about himself in the third person could trigger an existential crisis, he has nothing more to say.

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5

1,876 global ratings

5 star		88%
4 star		6%
3 star		3%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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Morgan

A wonderful story for anyone who doesn't feel like they fit the mold

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 11, 2022

Verified Purchase

Don't let the transphobes in the negative comments fool you, this book is for anyone who doesn't quite fit the prescribed mold of what society expects.

This book was read at my local library's story time a couple weeks ago. While the librarian was reading it, I felt an almost instant connection to Red, having always been the weird kid growing up that was always told to act and be like everyone else. I knew I wanted a copy for our home library before the story was even finished. Then, at the end of story time, my neurodivergent four year old ran right past all the kids who were eagerly playing with the bubbles the librarians set up at the end of story time, and headed straight towards where this book was sitting on the table. He picked it up and hugged it to his chest, clearly having felt a similar connection to Red or really Blue that I did. We checked it out that day, and he's wanted to read it every day since. And now we are very happy to have our own copy too.

So while, yes, this book CAN apply to trans kids, or any kid who is LGBTQ+ (which is wonderful), it can also apply to neurodivergent kids, and weird kids, and anyone who feels like they can't just be themselves because someone is always trying to tell them to be something else.

12 people found this helpful

Helpful

Shawn M. Irish

Red will inspire reflection about the subtle ways children become mislabeled.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 10, 2021

Verified Purchase

From the author

"I began writing Red: A Crayon’s Story, thinking about funny events that might result when a crayon’s label does not match the crayon’s color. But as I collected crayon puns — He’s not sharp enough; He’s not bright enough; He needs to press harder — I began to hear voices from my past. I knew that, at some level, this was my story.

I am dyslexic. As a child, I didn’t think of myself as mislabeled; I thought I wasn’t very bright. (In fact, I wasn’t very bright. But I was like everyone else: bright about some things and not bright about other things.) Red, a blue crayon with a red label, judged himself only by how well he could draw red. He accepted the label he was given and suffered profoundly. He tried in vain to draw himself as a red crayon, he was humiliated in front of his classmates, and he finally stormed off in a fit of frustration.

Both Red and I were blessed with a supportive community. Everyone tried their best to help. But almost no one could see beyond the label, and their actions only made things worse. I believe that most of the damage we do to each other is the result of ignorance rather than cruelty.

This notion was tested recently when I read an article about a high school teacher in Tennessee who was unhappy with a question one of his students asked. He responded by writing the word stupid on the student’s forehead — in front of the class, with a permanent marker, backwards so it could be read in a mirror. Thankfully, that sort of literal labeling is rare these days, but more subtle forms of labeling persist.

I hope Red will be among the many resources that help young children learn about colors. I hope readers of all ages enjoy the antics of Red’s well-meaning friends and family, who simply cannot see beyond his official label. I hope the book will provoke classroom discussions about issues like judging people based on outside appearances, how all of us have both strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of being true to oneself. And I hope Red will inspire reflection about the subtle ways children become mislabeled, judging children based on their successes rather than their failures, and the unmitigated joy of finding one’s place in the world.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Dylan

Great book!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 16, 2022

Verified Purchase

I actually love this book and my niece enjoys it too. I only left off a star because a barcode sticker was placed in the middle of the cover which looked annoying and ruined the cover slip when I tried to remove it.

Helpful

YetiJedi

A bird can love a fish, but where would they live?

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 20, 2022

Verified Purchase

This is a cute way to drive home the point that we need to get to know each other and not put each other in boxes but really celebrate our strengths.

Helpful

T. Rudolph

a MUST HAVE book - it should be required reading for every person, not just kids

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

This is an intelligent, yet, easy to understand master piece of literature. Though under the guise of a children's book it is actually a story for all humanity. I was overwhelmed after it being read to me on ZOOM and ordered it immediately while still chatting.
I can't recommend this book enough as it has value and purpose in a person's life. The Hero is Berry. Typically heroes are ordinary people that allow/facilitate us to be our best selves. We all need a "Berry" in our lives. We all deserve a teacher, relative, or friend that creates a safe space for us to express ourselves without criticism, shame, or oppression. This is my favorite book. I can relate to RED. It is a very personal story to me.

There wasn't anything available in the 70s or 80s like this for me. Could it have changed my life as a child?
I think it would have. This has become my absolute favorite book. it is my new #1.
My three favorites were WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE by Maurice Sendak
THE KNIGHT AND THE DRAGON by Tomi De Paola
MOM RICHARD HAS A BIG FAT BUTT by Rudi Rudolph

RED by Michael Hall is NOT like the series Drew Daywalt. Oliver Jeffers illustrates the "crayon" stories in a delightful and fun style of art. BTW, I own all the "crayon" books and merchandise. The series is that good.

RED is illustrated by the author. There isn't anything that is as fantastic as RED. It is the best story.

I just ordered all his other books.

28 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Carolyn Leigh

I love the way this story is written and it helps ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 17, 2018

Verified Purchase

I love the way this story is written and it helps so much to explain things to children in a way they can easily understand. My daughter is transgender and tried very hard to be a boy for a long time, but she just couldn't. This is much the same way that the blue crayon tried to be red. Once everyone understood they were blue the whole time, everything was better.

19 people found this helpful

andrena

Beautiful story

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 9, 2021

Verified Purchase

Currently my sons favourite story. Lovely simple drawings and a very colourful book. A subtle message about self identity with a happy ending. Wording simple enough for my 6yo son to read himself.

One person found this helpful

S Hawkes-Dighton

The brave little crayon

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on February 19, 2018

Verified Purchase

I love this book. It's so lovely. It's all about self-acceptance and people's expectations and being brave. It won't mean anything at all to the average toddler but the parent reading it will sob and then try to explain how amazing the crayon is. I bought this for a school I was working in as well as a copy for myself. We could all do with a little more love in our lives, right?

4 people found this helpful

Yanna

Amazing book. Generates loads of discussion and my son ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 12, 2017

Verified Purchase

Amazing book. Generates loads of discussion and my son (6) loves it. A fabulous way to introduce and expand on many topics.

One person found this helpful

Margaret

Ok

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 29, 2017

Verified Purchase

It was ok but my kids found it a bit hard to understand 6 and 7 year olds.

One person found this helpful

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Red: A Crayon's Story Hardcover – Picture Book, February 3, 2015

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Michael Hall

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