Questions for Philosophical Discussion » Summary The Day the Crayons Quit introduces the conflict between obligation and self-interest and asks questions about social norms and aesthetics. It’s scary to have a big job when you’re just a little droid on your own. But BB-8 isn’t alone for long. As he speeds across the sand, BB-8 meets all kinds of strangers who need his help. Should he do good things, as Poe always told him, or will that get in the way of his mission? I love the message of the book, even though it is extremely didactic, and the humor and the pictures are wonderful. Look at the illustrations of each crayon in the book – what is it about the face and the body of each crayon that puts across the emotion? Talk about how the drawings are quite simple, and yet we can still tell how each crayon is feeling. For instance, you might talk about how the beige crayon is bent over, with its arms drooped downwards and a frown on its face. What emotion does this body position and facial expression convey?

Duncan is assigned a coloring assignment in class, but when he looks inside of his crayon box, he finds a parcel of letters from his crayons, each detailing why they’ve decided to quit. To make his crayons happy again, Duncan must figure out some way to please each of them, for they all have different reasons for quitting.Tell them that you are going to read it together. Whenever you come across a color word, point to it and have your child read it. This delightful children’s book tells the story of Duncan, a little boy, who opens his box of crayons to find a pile of letters telling him - they've quit! Mr. Daywalt’s text blends with Mr. Jeffers’s illustrations to make a picture book that will have children clamoring for more crayon adventures.”—The Wall Street Journal I haven’t been reading many picture books lately, but with large groups of college students above and below me (don’t get me started) while I can’t focus on my current novel, I was able to concentrate on a picture book, and thanks to Goodreads friend Kathryn for encouraging me to read this particular book, and due to it being due at the library Monday, I just read it, and I’m glad I did.

A cute little books about Duncan's box of crayons. He goes to use them and discovers a pile of letters from various colors. The letters are mildly amusing, but the accompanying pictures are even better, illustrating each crayon's issue in a spot-on child-like style. The hilarious, colorful #1 New York Timesbestselling phenomenon that every kid wants! Gift a copy to someone you love today.Ask the children to consider why some of the crayons use capital letters in their writing. What emotion does this help them express? How could we read these bits out when we are telling the story? Help the children create ‘voices’ for the crayons when they are reading the letters out loud. Once again, Daywalt and Jeffers create rich emotional lives and personalities for their colorful cast, and it’s hard to imagine a reader who won’t be delighted.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review A brilliant, colorful tale that begs to be read aloud and a must-have for all collections.”—School Library Journal,starred review

This colorful title should make for an uproarious storytime.”– School Library Journal, starred review

A Wrinkle In Time: The Graphic Novel

I stood there looking at the not-quite-a-rainbow-mess in disgust, when my wife looked over and saw my expression, and asked what was wrong. Oliver Jeffers, the illustrator of The Day the Crayons Quit is well known for his children’s books. His other titles include Lost and Found (HarperCollins, 2006) and The Incredible Book Eating Boy (HarperCollins, 2009). If you can get hold of copies of some other books by Oliver Jeffers, the children could compare and contrast the way he chooses to illustrate the stories. A great book for a preschool, kindergarten, or early elementary aged student! EDUCATIONAL BOOKACTIVITY Show your class a box of crayons – some broken, some stubby, some whole, and some with the wrappers taken off. Ask the children to talk in pairs or groups about why the crayons look like this: I don't always review books that my son brings home from the school library (unless I love or HATE them haha) but this one made the 2013 Goodreads Choice Awards and several of you have it on your "to-read" list.