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Harold and the Purple Crayon
One evening Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. But there wasn't any moon, and Harold needed a moon for a walk in the moonlight. Fortunately, he had brought his purple crayon. So he drew a moon. He also needed something to walk on. So he drew a path...
And thus begins one of the most imaginative and enchanting adventures in all of children's books. The creativ
...morePaperback, 64 pages
Published
May 15th 1998
by HarperTrophy
(first published 1955)
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I've always overlooked this book. It just looked so very 1950s and not in a complimentary way - basically I thought it looked booooring. I finally decided to give it a go after someone mentioned that this was their favorite childhood book. I'm very glad I did and I've proven once again that 'you can't judge a book by its cover' - corny, but true. Izzy and I loved reading about Harold and his magical adventures. Any child that loves to draw and/or has a vivid imagination will appreciate this...more
Harold is probably the most influential character in all of literature in our family
Harold and the Purple Crayon has had a tremendous impact on my life. I mean, it says it right there in my bio:
“The book that changed Emlyn’s life is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson. It opened her eyes to the world that could exist if only she was willing to create it—a lesson she has never forgotten.”
I mean, c’mon a precocious, round-headed child takes flights of fancies in his PJs with his favorite—not necessarily gender appropriate—colored crayon. It has...more
“The book that changed Emlyn’s life is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson. It opened her eyes to the world that could exist if only she was willing to create it—a lesson she has never forgotten.”
I mean, c’mon a precocious, round-headed child takes flights of fancies in his PJs with his favorite—not necessarily gender appropriate—colored crayon. It has...more
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This book made me think of my nephew: he doesn’t talk at all, but he draws and colors all the time. Harold is the same way. This book, targeted toward preschool-aged children, is small, yet has a portrait orientation, which makes it easier for Harold to draw his pictures as tall as he needs them to be. Every aspect of this book is designed so that Harold can do whatever his imagination wants, and so that the children reading this book will be able to easily identify what is happening by simpl...more
My first impression of this book when I decided to pick it out of the list for this week's reading was that it would be about a boy learning to write or draw with a purple crayon. However, when I started flipping through the pages, doing my initial check - my eyes saw pages of a monster, the boy at sea, climbing a mountain, and immediately I had flipped back to the first page and started reading. The shape of the book is landscape. The author's purpose in doing so might be because the story is p...more
Oh dear, this one is tough to rate. My niece and nephew had *completely* different opinions of this book. My niece loved it, and she told me to, "give that one five stars on Goodreads." Well, that isn't going to happen, because my nephew *hated* it. He was sighing, he was squirming, and it was just obvious that while he was interested in what Harold was drawing, this book was also boring him to tears. When we finished the book he said, "Amy, I don't like that story. I just w...more
The first thing I noticed about this book was how small it was. It was the size of my palm, which would make it perfect for a young child’s hands. It had a deep purple cover, with a gray toned Harold on it. He really stuck out against the dark background. The cover is a wrap-around image, connecting Harold’s scribbles with his purple crayon. The illustrations inside are all white, and seemingly drawn by Harold and his purple crayon. It really looked like Harold was illustrating his story. The t...more
this is one of those books where not only do the children in my life enjoy this book, but i do as well. for a kid’s book, it’s pretty existential. A boy goes through this world where nothing exists and with his purple crayon, creates his world. What makes it more than just a kids book, what gives it the philosophical premise is that even though harold starts the story with this crayon, and has the power to draw anything, become anything, because all he need do is draw whatever he wants to be or...more
I remember reading Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson, as a child, so when I saw the book on the library shelves, I decided to check it out for my older daughter. When I read it to her, the feelings of disquietude that had plagued me as a child when I read the book (and which I had forgotten) were reawakened. Harold and the Purple Crayon is upsetting because it is not a journey into the imagination or even into a real yet magical world (a la Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are...more
Crockett Johnson's allegorical retelling of Books 1-6 of Vergil's Aeneid is still as powerful today as when it was originally published in 1955. After being startled by a "dragon" guarding apples - a reference to the Achaian menace brought on by the Golden Apple of Discord - Harold/Aeneas is forced into an involuntary sea voyage, accompanied only by the moon (here a stand-in for his patroness/mother Venus). He lands in a pleasant country, and enjoys a seaside feast (the wealth and luxu...more
Our story opens with a wild tangle of purple lines, which guide our eyes to the next page, upon which the source of the morass is revealed to be none other than intrepid, young Harold and his creative tool of choice, the titular Purple Crayon. Emerging from this sea of unfiltered imagination, he decides to take a walk in the moonlight--that is, to undertake a journey which acts both as a vehicle for the endless purple creations spawned head and crayon, and as fuel for that very same vehicle, in...more
Robert C
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Recommends it for:
Anyone with an Imagination
Shelves:
topten
I just love this book (even though my wife insists I never pronounce the word crayon correctly. She says I say "crown"). As an author I try to emulate what Harold does in this book. First, go looking for an adventure. Next, add some obstacles, a little humor, a moose, some pie, and some narrow escapes. Finally, when you're all done, find your way home and get some rest. If I was ever stranded on a desert island, this would be the book I'd want to have with me.
I loved this little book so much, I might even say that it helped shape my psyche. I'm sure that, being an artist, it had special appeal to me that might go beyond ordinary experience. The concept is so simple that it's brilliant. The character is perfect, the drawings are perfect. Harold was a real little guy to me ~ when he was lost, I was lost. And finding his way home again... well, that was a bit of creative genius on the part of the author ~ once again, simple, yet brilliant. I still laugh...more
This book should be read by an intermediate to advanced reader, but should be read to a primary to intermediate child. I really liked this book because it definitely shows how a child's imagination works. They never miss a beat. One thought leads to another than another. On the other hand, it's kind of long for a child to read on their own. This is definitely a book you would have to read to them instead of them reading it themselves because of some of the words are a little advanced and the boo...more
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a great book for primary education. It is a very unique book about a boy named Harold who goes on a walk with his purple crayon that can draw anything he wants. He starts off by drawing a sidewalk to walk on and a moon. Harold continues drawing as he goes on his walk and keeps going where ever his imagination takes him. Before Harold knows it he wants to go back to his window and bed but can't find his way back and finally draws his way back to his window and his ...more
Harold and the purple crayon is a classic that can develop creativity in even the least artistic child. In preschool it may be used to help children know that they have the ability to create whatever they imagine, they just have to take a chance and put their pen to paper.
This book may also be used in a variety of lessons. For example, if you were developing a math lesson about different types of shapes and lines and discussing their similarities and differences, you may use this book ...more
This book may also be used in a variety of lessons. For example, if you were developing a math lesson about different types of shapes and lines and discussing their similarities and differences, you may use this book ...more
I really like this book because its simple and easy to understand. I think this book is great for pre-k and kinder. I really like the pictures used in this book in creating the story.
If you are looking for a story that will help your child's imagination run, Harold and the Purple Crayon is perfect. It is a story about a little boy who goes for a walk and creates all he sees and all he does with his magical purple crayon. This story shows kids that they can create their own adventure. I really enjoyed the illustrations because they are simple white pages with only the sketch of Harold and the images that he creates with him purple crayon. I think that children can really ...more
This book is Amazing! I love this story of imagination & imagery! My favorite part toward the end:
"And then Harold made his bed.
He got in it and he drew up the covers."
This is so perfect on so many levels. The sad thing is I don't remember reading this as a child - I am just discovering The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon at age 30 - Where have you been all my life Harold? If you're like me or if you've read it before - do yourself a favor and read this book -...more
"And then Harold made his bed.
He got in it and he drew up the covers."
This is so perfect on so many levels. The sad thing is I don't remember reading this as a child - I am just discovering The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon at age 30 - Where have you been all my life Harold? If you're like me or if you've read it before - do yourself a favor and read this book -...more
3.) Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson
Johnson, C. (1955) Harold and the purple crayon. HarperCollins Publishers.
Illustrated by Crockett Johnson
Summary: This story is about a little boy who draws pictures with a purple crayon. His pictures take him and the children reading the story on adventures all over the place. Children will love this story because it allows them to see and experience things they may not have ever seen before. I would use this story as a way t...more
Johnson, C. (1955) Harold and the purple crayon. HarperCollins Publishers.
Illustrated by Crockett Johnson
Summary: This story is about a little boy who draws pictures with a purple crayon. His pictures take him and the children reading the story on adventures all over the place. Children will love this story because it allows them to see and experience things they may not have ever seen before. I would use this story as a way t...more
The more you get into the book while only looking at the pictures, the more you can get a better understanding what the story line consists of. The illustrations were cartoonish crayon-like with just one color being purple. My first impression was that it was going to be a pretty boring book but boy was I wrong. I liked the message in this story. To me it says, anything is possible if you put your mind too it. Harold was very smart and knew how to get himself out of sticky situations. The fact t...more
Yes, I've read this book many times, but my youngest (Ty -- now 22) commandeered all of the copies for his own library so I picked up another copy for myself. I remember Ty reading this book so many times, and he would giggle and laugh. He used to sneak a flashlight into his bedroom and read this book under the covers, much to his brother's (who at that time shared a room) dismay. I remember hearing, "Mom, Ty is reading again, make him go to sleep." I have been so blessed to have that...more
One of the all-time best books to foster creativity in children. A must for EVERY child's bookshelf.
If you don't know why this book gets five stars you probably haven't read it.
Mom's Rating: Loved this one as a kid, and after reading it again, I still adore it. It's just a lovely little story about the simple joy of your imagination and where it can take you. This is one that I recommend all parents to get a copy of and read it over and over to their kids.
Mom's Rating: 10/10
Jake's Review: Mom used to read this to me when I was little and it was cute. It's a little boring for me now and the pictures are way too simple, but I think the little midget wil...more
Mom's Rating: 10/10
Jake's Review: Mom used to read this to me when I was little and it was cute. It's a little boring for me now and the pictures are way too simple, but I think the little midget wil...more
This is another one of those books I see as a classic I think all kids should read. It really lets the imagination go wild being able to draw anything that comes to mind and it appears in "real life". I believe children would love reading this book. It isn't colorful but the pictures are very simple and go hand and hand with the words and though they are simple it is because it is about the purple crayon so all of the pictures are simply drawn by the crayon and that is why they aren't ...more
Secular humanism is good!! (Albert that's for you)
This was yet another very enjoyable book that I have chosen to read. What I liked the most about this book is that Harold was using his imagination and his purple crayon to create an adventure. I think a good activity to do with this book would be to read it to the classroom and let them create their own adventure on paper with a purple crayon and then write a short story about it. Then they can share their own adventure with the purple crayon with their classmates. This book is a good example ...more
Recently re-read this book to elementary schoolers and was reminded how a good book has a certain indescribable "it" factor. I don't know why this is so great -- maybe because it *doesn't* makes sense ... is Harold drawing on the wall? Will he get in trouble? How can a little boy draw so well? Is he imagining all this? But none of this matters, the very, very simple line drawings are excellent and understanable. It really appeals to the young, imaginative world inside a child's mind an...more
"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." This gentle story shows just how far your imagination can take you. Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. ...more
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