The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon: Four Magical Stories

by Crockett Johnson

Harold and his incredible, astounding, magical purple crayon can go anywhere and do anything!

This volume contains the complete text and illustrations for all four books:
- Harold and the Purple Crayon
- Harold's Fairy Tale
- Harold's Trip to the Sky
- Harold's Circus

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Art, Fantasy, Young Adult, Classics

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Crockett Johnson was the pen name of the American cartoonist and children's book illustrator David Johnson Leisk. He is best known for the comic strip Barnaby (1942–1952) and the Harold series of books beginning with Harold and the Purple Crayon. [From Wikipedia.]

Reviews

[Ian Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know this charming book as a child, I only discovered it with my own child, who is now a teenager. These adventures have a magical quality because Crockett Johnson tapped into the way a child's imagination can work, where anything is possible because you haven't yet learned what is not possible: 'if I draw a door I can go through the door, if I need a solution to my problem I can just draw one.' I have recommend Harold to parents looking for good things to read to their toddlers, it works a treat.

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

How did I grow up without knowing of this book? My three-year-old immediately was asking how to draw things to sit on. He resolved that it must be 'magination....Too true. Creatively written text accompanies playful magic. Sweet ending.

[Shabana Mukhtar · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adventures of Harold and the Purple Crayon: Four Magical Stories (Hardcover) by Crockett Johnson

It is an anthology that brings the four stories together.
1. Harold and the Purple Crayon
2. Harold's Fairy Tale
3. Harold's Trip To The Sky
4. Harold's Circus

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and simple. All it takes is a purple crayon and an imagination.

[CaseyH · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harold adventures all around the world to find his window, makes a circus, visits a kings castle, all with him and his magic purple crayon.

[Ro · Rating 2 out of 5]

Harold and the Purple Crayon shouldn't really be spoiled by making the pictures move, because in some of these it doesn't really show them moving, but still it does poetri-izes them. It does not say in normal terms, but once you look at it for a while, you can see the pictures move. In the third story I noticed that it needed to be more like the first one. Most sequels are rip-offs. Just stick with the first Harold.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four imaginative stories. I loved this series as a kindergartener, and wished I could draw my adventures around me as I was experiencing them. Simple illustrations, but then, Harold is drawing them.

[Sierra Randolph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Years ago, I remember reading a story that had something to do with drawing the world using a purple crayon. It stuck in my head because of two reasons: one, the idea of literally drawing your world fascinated me, and two, my favorite color is purple. =)

Fast forward a few years, and I was walking in a local bookstore that no longer exists (I believe it was a Waldenbooks). I happened across this book in one aisle, and a creeping sense of déja vu started to seep into my brain. As I sat in the aisle, reading the book, the memory slowly trickled in to the point where I fell in love and simply had to own the book.

There's a reason it is still being read to children and taught to them to this day—it teaches that imagination can be more than idle wishing. It encourages anyone to make things, create things, and improve their world by doing so. It doesn't matter that the stories are comparatively simple or that they are over 50 years old...their simplicity and timelessness are what make Harold's adventures so universal.

I urge you to check this out if you haven't already been read these stories at night before bed. It'll take you back to childhood, yes. Hopefully, however, it'll also propel you forward in new and more creative ways.

[John Von · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harold and the Purple Crayon to me is a story about the power of imagination. Harold, teaches children the lesson that you can never really be bored. With nothing but a purple crayon and a piece of paper Harold creates his own world, and adventure. At one point in the story Harold needed a house but, "Harold couldn't even see a house, so he made a house." Again a small lesson on the power of imagination. I'd recommend this book to all parents to read to their children. Today, children are too obsessed with xbox and T.V. and war craft, but just small books like this may persuade a child to go outside more, use their imagination and have fun with friends. Instead of locking them selves in the house, eating snacks, and having no friends.

[Katlin Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains four stories about Harold and his adventures with the purple crayon. As a child, these were some of my favorite stories, and they still continue to be today. In these stories Harold goes on walks and follows the moon, all the while drawing out friends, food, stars, trees, building, and all sorts of things to help him on his way. All of these stories are great to help inspire children to use their imagination to create things. It could also help children connect meaning to writing, drawing, and symbols.

A great activity for this book would be to give each child their own purple crayon and have them draw what sort of adventure they would most like to go on, just like Harold did.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A while ago I reviewed "Not A Box" (Book 29) and commented on how it reminded me of "Harold and the Purple Crayon". I liked "Not A Box" because the genderless rabbit could be male or female and therefore could appeal to a boy or a girl. I love "Harold", though, because he reminds me of my fair-haired, toddling son.

Not only that, "Harold" is about a child's imagination, which I think is an excellent subject for a children's book, especially a clever child's imagination.

The illustrations are simple; the colors are few, although purple does play a prominent role; and the result is perfection in illustration.

[☆Brittany☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hilarious moment during the story was when Harold was riding a shooting star & my 4 yr old son said, "Stars can't be ridden. They are balls of fire. He would burn up."
I burst out laughing & realized, not only how smart my kid is (which wasn't a big surprise since *I* am his mother) BUT, how he's been taking more & more things literally & it's pretty cute. I told him this story was make believe & to USE his imagination that Harold was riding the shooting star & he was like, "Oh."
Hee Hee Hee!!

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is fast and simple reading, but Johnson's device of Harold being able to draw his way into adventure, out of trouble, and provide whatever he needs along the way is very satisfying and full of whimsy. And this book will be a great experiment with children.

But this time Harold had had enough of adventure. He wanted to get home in a dependable way.

So he climbed down the stars.

It was sure but slow. And the points of the stars hurt his feet. Harold wished he were home.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved "Harold and the Purple Crayon" as a child, but did not know other books existed until I stumbled upon this on the bargain rack in a bookstore. I snapped it up straight away, and have been enjoying it with my children ever since. MY favorite will always be the first adventure, but my daughter loves "Harold's Fairy Tale" best and my son prefers "Harold's Trip to the Sky". A must-read for all parents and children under the age of 6 years.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a cute kids book. I borrowed it from my babysitter when she said my kids loved it. This is definitely a kids book I am going to buy. I loved how this little boy uses his purple crayon to create this exciting world for himself. It reminds me of my childhood when my brother and I would go outside all day and just play with rocks, and dirt, and whatever was around us.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew about this book growing up, I guess my parents didn't want me to know about another possible creative outlet...I bought this when I had my first child twelve yrs ago and we just read it again last yr, my second child loves it also. This collection of stories is certainly considered a childhood classic at our house

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

V: Good read.
Took awhile to sit down and read the rest of the book with my other kids, my daughter originally wanted to read this to me, but as we went along, there were some words that were too hard for her. My younger son enjoyed the stories and had me read all of them in this book in one sitting. We enjoyed the story and imagination of Harold. Something different to read.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has four little adventures that Harold takes with his purple crayon. This book really got my little one's imagination going. They would guess what he would draw next. I just hope that I don't see purple crayon marks on my white walls anytime soon.

[Dolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a nice collection of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" stories. Our girls love his imagination and how the story unfolds. The four stories are separate, so it's easy to break up the reading, since it's a long book.

[Andi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Harold and the Purple Crayon when I was younger and loved it. This edition contains all of Harold's adventures and is so fun to read. I got this for the kids for Christmas this year and they absolutely love it!

[Dani Ward · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favourite books as a child. It opened my mind to the possibilities that both words and images hold for shaping lives, and thus influenced me at an early age to develop a more keen interest in art and literature - an interest that has served me well as a graphic designer.

[Cristina Di Matteo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quattro avventure in cui Harold, armato solo della sua matita viola, disegna il mondo che desidera e lo rende realtà. Una celebrazione senza tempo dell’immaginazione infantile, capace di trasformare il bianco della pagina in un universo di scoperte, giochi e libertà creativa.

[kathy hong · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is honestly one of the most imaginative books I have ever read. I recognized that as a kid and as an adult.

[monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was 14 years old when i bought this bookset, and i read it and loved every minute of it!

[Renata · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG! I soooooooooo wish I had a purple crayon

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful and simple book that stirs the imagination of any preschool aged child.
We've also watched the Sharon Stone narrated show on HBO and it's wonderful as well!

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very creative.

[Emilloohoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

IT DREW MY WORLD!~

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A childhood favorite.

[Steven Hummer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Funnier and better kids books are out there.