Susanna Leonard Hill has a feature on her blog called Perfect Picture Book Friday. It is a list of “perfect” picture books recommended by all sorts of people. I chose this book because it really shows how we need to look inside of a person, and not judge by appearance or expect them to be a certain way.
Written and Illustrated by Michael Hall
Hardcover: 40 pages ages 4+
Published by Greenwillow Books on February 3, 2015
Theme/Topic- Being yourself
Genre- Fiction
Opening and Synopsis- Opening – “He was red.”
Synopsis (from publisher) – “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! 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!”
Why I liked this book- This seems the ultimate “be yourself” book. It shows that if you just judge by appearance, you can get an entirely different outlook than on what’s inside the “wrapper”. The illustrations are quirky and fun to look at. I like how the white page is really “paper” for the crayons to draw on. That was pretty cool. This is a wonderful book, and I was happy to review it. “Red” is a nice crayon who you care for. There is some humor in the story, because the reader instantly knows that Red is blue. This is a nice book for diversity teaching.
Activities and Resources-
There is a printable activity and teacher’s guise to go along with the books at the publisher’s website. Click HERE to get them.
Get some crayons and make an adventure for them! Or, have the crayons DRAW the adventure for them!
Or how about getting coloring pages and have kids color the pages colors that aren’t the “normal” colors for the picture – like this one – I think the woolly mammoth wants to be pink with a little brown. 😉
To find more Perfect Picture Books please visit Susanna Hill’s blog HERE!
Categories: Age 1-5, Other Stuff Related to Books and Reading, Perfect Picture Book Friday
What a perfect selection for pre-Valentine’s Day. And what a great opening line–not to mention premise. Great review, Erik!
Thanks Ms. Newman! It is a great book! 😀
Sounds like it’s too good to be true. I Love the sound of this book. More kids, and adults too, have a hard time accepting themselves the way they are and wish they were somehow better and different. Thanks for introducing this book to us. I can’t wait to read it. I’m putting it on my list.
Happy Valentine’s Day, tomorrow! 🙂
Thank you Ms. Bowman-Jahn! It is a great book! You are so right! 😀
What a great book about not sticking to the labels other people put on you. And finding your true inner color.
That is great! I didn’t realize it like that! 😀
Fabulous find, Erik!
Thanks! 😀
Sounds like a great book. This one just might need a space beside my copy of The Day the Crayons Quit. Looks like my library is gonna need a “crayon section.”
Nananananana – CRAYON SHELF! 😉 It is an awesome book! 😀
What a great choice Erik. Haven’t seen this new book. Love the theme about being comfortable with who you are. Excellent review.
Thanks Mrs. Tilton! It is a necessary book in today’s society!
I wonder if red crayons taste any different than blue. I hope to find out someday…
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Hahahhahhahahahahaaaaaa!
Um… I’ll just walk away now… 😉
Erik
A book with a message of positivity on finding yourself-thank you.
You’re welcome! 😀
So glad you like this one too!
Why wouldn’t I like it?
Oh, now I’ve got another to pick up before heading to the mountains this weekend for the long holiday. Thanks, Erik!
Have fun! 😀
I just read a Michael Hall book. It was called “It’s and Orange Ardvark!” Very funny book. This one looks great as well!
I’ve got to check it out now! 😀
Looks like a great metaphor for self-acceptance. A great life lesson for everyone.
You are right, Dr. Clune! 😀
Another crayon book? Haven’t heard of this one, but will definitely be looking for it. Nice review, Erik!
It is a great book! Thanks L.Lobo! 😀
A great find, Erik. Some lessons for sure for kids and adults in being true to yourself. Sounds fun to read. Thanks for sharing.
That’s exactly it, Ms. Tulloch! 🙂
I love another crayon book! And I just saw that a clay book will be coming from Dev Petty in 2017. Make way for art supplies!
Huzzah! Arrrt! (sorry. Horrible play on words – Arrrg! 😉 ) I’ll check out the book! 😀
I like the idea of this book. It would be a great companion with The Day the Crayons Quit. Sounds good! 🙂
I think that you are right! 😀
Wow. This looks awesome. I decided to comment before checking my library. The PPBF list has been on fire the last few weeks. I’ve loved the selections.
I know what you mean! 😀
I’d like to read this one. It’d be great to go along with other crayon stories (see how it compares to what red had to say in The Day the Crayons Quit).
That’s a great activity! 😀
Ha! What a clever premise. Thanks for the great idea about drawing our own adventure. ‘Can’t wait!
Thanks Ms. Roberts! 😀
More crayons! There seems to be some kind of crayon revolution going on? Maybe that’s why there are always crayons all over the classroom floors and nobody can ever find the color that they want! Does this book shed any light on this problem?!
No, but it explains why crayons have a super complicated name when they are just light brown, not “Burnt sienna slowly roasted over an open fire, boiled for 5 minutes, and flash-freezed”. 😉