The Day the Crayons Quit Summary
The narrative opens with a little child named Duncan having been given a coloring project at school that requires him to utilize his crayon box. But when he opened the box, he found a stack of letters his rebellious crayons had written to him! Basically, Duncan’s crayons don’t like the way he uses them, so they each send him a letter explaining their humorous reasons for quitting—or perhaps a better phrase would be “going on strike”!
The orange and yellow crayons, for instance, aim to persuade Duncan that they are the true color of the sun and, as such, the logical option in such works.
Drew Daywalt’s story is sure to get a few chuckles, and Oliver Jeffers’ drawings are bold and colorful, making The Day the Crayons Quit an ideal present for new parents, baby showers, back to school, or any other occasion! If you’re looking for something creative and fun, then this is the book for you and your child.
A Few Accolades
Amazon’s Best Children’s Book of 2013
A 2013 Barnes & Noble Best Book
Winner of the E.B. White Read-Aloud Award and the 2013 Goodreads Award for Best Picture Book
Story Characters
- Duncan is the little boy who owns the box of crayons.
- Red Crayon
- Purple Crayon
- Beige Crayon
- Gray Crayon
- White Crayon
- Black Crayon
- Green Crayon
- Yellow Crayon
- Orange Crayon
- Blue Crayon
- Pink Crayon
- Peach Crayon
Drew Daywalt Is The Author of The Day The Crayons Quit
Here is a short summary of how Drew Daywalt came up with the idea for his humorous children’s book.
In the fall of 2003, he was sitting at his desk in his Los Angeles apartment, dying to write the first draft of his first picture book. He looked around the room for inspiration, hoping it would be written on the wall, desk, or floor. There was his old, broken computer, but he didn’t think a book about that would be interesting to kids. There was a stack of bills, but he knew that the kids’ parents wouldn’t sleep well after hearing that story!
Then, like a lighthouse on a hill, he saw them! There, on his desk, there was an old box of crayons and a pen holder with a hula girl that his grandpa had left him in his will. He couldn’t even remember where I got the crayons or why he had them. Drew didn’t have any kids yet, so those were my crayons. And at the time, he couldn’t, for the life of him, remember the last time he had colored. Crayons seem to be everywhere, don’t they? They just show up everywhere, like behind the dresser, under the couch cushions, and in the junk drawer. But here was a box that he had apparently kept with him as he moved from apartment to apartment with his office stuff. So, they were there. And he knew they had something to say!
If you’d like to read the entire story of how he drew (pun intended!) inspiration for his children’s book, visit Drew Daywalt’s site here.
Oliver Jeffers (Illustrator)
Oliver Jeffers is a Northern Irish artist, designer, author, and illustrator for The Day the Crayons Quit.
He was born in 1977 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Jeffers graduated from the University of Ulster with a first-class degree in Fine Art before going on to study at the Chelsea College of Art and Design in London. He now lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.
Jeffers is perhaps best known for his picture books, including How to Catch a Star, The Incredible Book Eating Boy, Lost and Found, Up and Down, and The Day the Crayons Quit. His illustrations have also been used in advertising campaigns for companies such as Apple, Penguin Books, and Nissan.
To see more of Oliver Jeffers’s books, you can visit his Amazon page and his website here.
Other Children’s Books by Drew Daywalt
Drew Daywalt is the author of several children’s books, including “The Day the Crayons Quit” and “The Day the Crayons Came Home.” His books are known for their humor and creativity, and they have been praised by critics and readers alike. Daywalt’s books are a great way to introduce young children to the world of literature, and they are sure to bring a smile to your face.
You can find a list of Drew Daywalt’s books on his Amazon page and on his own website here.
The Day the Crayons Quit Read Aloud
This is a fantastic reading of the story with multiple voices used in this video, including children’s voices that you will be able to appreciate.
Poor Duncan just wants to color, but it is going to take some ingenuity on his part to get his crayons onboard. Watch and listen as the video asks, “Why did all of Duncan’s crayons suddenly become uncooperative?” Crayons have had enough, and in this humorous series of letters, they separately explain why they’ve reached their breaking point.
The Day the Crayons Quit Activities
Here are a few resources of sites that provide actionable information related to this New York Times bestseller by Drew Daywalt.
- https://www.pinterest.com/shortteacher/the-day-the-crayons-quit-activities/
- https://growingbookbybook.com/the-day-the-crayons-quit-activities/
- https://www.mosswoodconnections.com/activity/the-day-the-crayons-quit-crafts-and-activities/
Where to Buy ‘The Day The Crayons Quit’ & Product Details
Product details
First edition published by Philomel Books (June 27, 2013)
Language: English Book with a hardcover: 40 pages
ISBN-10 : 0399255370 ISBN-13 : 978-0399255373
Reading age: 3–6 years old, according to customers
Lexile measure : AD730L
Preschool level: 2 Item weight: 1.05 pounds
Size: 10.38 inches by 0.44 inches by 10.28 inches
How Crayons Are Made?
This Pennsylvania manufacturing line generated its first batch of Crayola crayons in 1903, and now, over a century later, it is responsible for the production of an astounding eight million crayons each and every day.
Watch this great 5:25 video above on how Crayola makes its signature crayons.
Crayon Questions and Answers
What Are Crayons Made Of?
Crayons are formed of waxes including paraffin, beeswax, and carnauba wax, as well as dry color. In addition, several synthetic waxlike compounds are employed in modern crayons. The waxes are melted, and the dry color is mixed in continuously until evenly distributed.
Are Crayons Edible?
In small quantities, crayons are considered to besafe. Most crayons are made out of wax and color. The ingredients are not considered to be dangerous, and most people won’t need medical help. But if a crayon is eaten, it might make you feel sick.
If your child eats a crayon, it will mostly work like a mild laxative. Your child is more likely to choke on a larger crayon piece that gets stuck in his or her throat.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
Are Crayons Toxic?
Crayola says that their products have been safe since 1903, which is when they first started selling crayons. An independent toxicologist has looked at all Crayola and Silly Putty products and found that none of them contain any known toxic substances in large enough amounts to hurt a person, even if they are eaten or breathed in.
