The Day the Crayons Came Home by Oliver Jeffers

The Day the Crayons Came Home Reviews

• 
  Michele Knott

  I have a new favorite crayon. His name is Esteban.
• 
  Carmen

  Duncan gets a stack of postcards in the mail from his disgruntled crayons.
  
  They are writing to him from exotic locations.
  
  TO: Duncan
  Duncan's Bedroom
  Upstairs
  This House
  
  Dear Duncan,
  Not sure if you remember me. My name is MAROON CRAYON. You only colored with me once, to draw a scab, but whatever. Anyway, you LOST me TWO years ago in the couch, then your dad SAT on me and BROKE ME IN HALF! I never would have survived had PAPERclip not NURSED me back to health. I'm finally better, so come get me! And can Paper Clip come too? He's really holding me together.
  
  Sincerely,
  Your marooned crayon,
  Maroon Crayon
  
  We see a bearded Robinson Crusoe-lookin' crayon with a happy waving paper clip wrapped around his waist.
  
  Dear Duncan,
  No one likes peas.
  No one even likes the color PEA green. So I'm changing my name and running away to see the WORLD.
  Sincerely,
  Esteban... the Magnificent!
  (the crayon formerly known as PEA GREEN)
  
  LOL LOL We see Pea Green, oh, excuse me, I mean Esteban the Magnificent putting on his cape and running heroically.
  
  http://www.ew.com/sites/default/files...
  
  Neon Red is writing from the Ritz Motel where he was left by the pool after Duncan used him to color in his dad's sunburn. After eight months of waiting for Duncan to come get him, he's decided to walk back.
  
  Yellow and Orange (as you remember they were fighting about who was the “true color of the sun” in Book One) are now fused together in an unholy mutation after being left out in the aforementioned sun.
  
  You know the real color of the sun?? HOT. That's what. We're sorry for arguing. You can make Green the sun for all we care, just bring us HOME!
  
  Then there's the grosser ones like “Tan or Possibly Burnt Sienna” who was eaten by a dog and puked up on the living room rug. It's gross, but kids will probably get a kick out of it.
  
  Then we get an update from Estaban the Magnificent:
  
  Dearest Duncan,
  Um... could you please OPEN the FRONT DOOR? I still need to see the world....
  Sincerely,
  Esteban the Magnificent
  
  One of the children's favorites might be the glow-in-the-dark page (tantalizingly mentioned on the cover) in which Glow In The Dark Crayon reminisces about when he and Duncan drew scary stuff on the wall to convince Duncan's little brother that there was a ghost under the basement stairs. But now Glow In The Dark Crayon is trapped in the basement and he is scared.
  
  We get periodic updates from Neon Crayon who is intensely confused about where he is in the world. For instance, he sends a postcard from Egypt, but claims he's in New Jersey.
  
  Gold Crayon's upset because he was blunted coloring in gold coins.
  
  Some other crayons write in from various places with various complaints.
  
  Just like the ending of the first book, Duncan finds a way to make everyone happy.
  EL FIN.
  …
  
  PLUSES:
  - Even funnier than the first book.
  - Glow-in-the-dark page.
  - Illustrations that look as if they have been drawn by an actual child.
  - Good concepts and vocabulary, doesn't talk down to children.
  
  MINUSES:
  - Occasionally gross. One crayon is puked up by a dog, a brown crayon is upset because Duncan used him to color shit. I mean, your personal gross-out level will vary. This won't even faze some people.
  
  Tl;dr – Even funnier than the first book.
• 
  carol.

  Amusing series, but not sure it works for kids. Lots of words and a story line that it a little too sophisticated for the pre-eight-year-old set that centers on the calamities that happen to crayons owned by careless young children. The pictures are a great play off kid's crayon drawings, but may not be appreciated by eyes looking for crisp edges and bright colors. The florescent pink crayon reminded me of how I disliked that crayon when I was younger. My four-year-old cousin was bored when I tried reading it to her, but I wasn't!
  
  For excerpts and details on the story, see Carmen's excellent review.
  
  
  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
  
  I too have a fondness for Esteban the Magnificent (formerly known as Pea Green)!
• 
  #AskMissPatience

  What I like most about Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers The Day The Crayons Came Home is how freakin’ utterly hilarious this book is.
  
  By Tan, I was laughing so hard I had to stop reading to catch my breath.
  
  Esteban the Magnificent popping in along this journey in stand up comedy terms is dubbed ”a callback”. I'm in love with this little guy. BUT you’ll have to read the book with a little to find out which color he is.
  
  Poor Tan (teaser alert) can't tell what color it is anymore, ”Have you ever been eaten by a dog and puked up on the living room rug? Because I have... ” 🤣🤣🤣
  
  This poor little remainder of what used to be a beloved brand new crayon is beyond humiliated.
  
  Drew and Oliver have given me new author goals. I hope my series shared by me will insight belly laughs as much as this book has.
  
  I've read a LOT of children’s books to students. Adding personality. Such as Sandra Boynton’s Barnyard Dance with me doing a Square Dance style caller while dancing as a square dancer would always make the children laugh. Even older students.
  
  This inspired an idea for an activity, everyone picks a crayon and perform the plot. While attempting to read the parts. I'm falling on the floor laughing imagining this in real life occurring already.
  
  Better yet, have the children make their crayon costumes. To make it fair because everyone will want to perform, make groups of children be different colors, and write their silly parts OR divide the class into the number of colors for this book. Then, put them into book groups. Each group will memorize and act out their color.
  
  Plus, you can have a group of children draw the postcards and act as a postcard, too. Play the game, ”Where in the world is Neon Red Crayon?” Read to see why this question works for a geography and social studies exploration.
  
  So many ways to go about this creatively. Decide the education themes for what categories. Such as, we are studying: art, social studies, and also discuss the postal system and geography.
  
  Cross-curriculum will make this a very fun way to learn about many interesting places.
  
  If there are people who want to be more than one color or assignment there's no reason why children can't try different roles. This gives them a diversity of experiences and helps them explore how we do throughout our education as we get older.
  
  Even in college, we have mandatory classes on topics we will never use ever. But, are forced to take, pay for, and master to get value according to the standards required. If we want a diploma. While guiding us to our true path.
  
  Like, for me ending up here sharing with you. Began illiterate. Struggling was discouraged by my first college English teacher, ”You’re not college material”.
  
  Joined the military full time and studied hard to improve reading, vocabulary, and took easier college classes like library studies and typing.
  
  Finally, in four years mastered the craft of reading and writing enough to return to college full time while being in the military part-time.
  
  Still working hard to improve literacy along the way. Graduated with elementary education and later early childhood certification where I earned a 4.0 because in my heart want to be the best for those I'm working toward being an empathetic author to this beautiful world of children.
  
  Beginning with children from the get go, we can mentor them to see they can be anyone they wanna be, BUT this might not always be an easy journey.
  
  Along the way when bumps happen can hurdle their difficulties, like the crayons, will find their way when they put their minds to the task and work hard to get to where they wanna be. If I can do it, I'm sure any little can.
  
  Especially when they have caring adults like you to support them with cool books and activities to help develop their brains, choices, and creativity along the way.
  
  We can help children prepare for these roads in life in fun ways as littles since they'll explore options and learn to pick a favorite. How else do we know it's our preference until we try things we don't like as well?
  
  This books takes me back to my teaching days. When I met my first group of crayons in the original, the Day the Crayons Quit. This sequel is funnier to me as I don't remember laughing as hard while surrounded by students. I'm alone reading to review cracking up. So I know this is real hilarity as I'm a grown-up in my 50’s.
  
  Who says we're ever too old to read a children’s book is clueless of its joy at any age. Especially for an aspiring children’s series writer 😊
  
  Borrowed from the library on the Overdrive app. The version was delivered to my Kindle.
  
  What I learned is this particular book on kindle sucks if you've never used a Kindle before. Because the postcards are written in crayon I couldn't see the tiny print well.
  
  It took an accident of fate to figure out if I tap the page twice segments of the text will pop out. Then, I have to tap twice again for the next section to pop out to read. And so on. Including to see small non-crayon writing.
  
  This style book is preferred in the paper version for me for sure. It's so good I'm buying a copy to do a verified review on Amazon. And, if I'm fortunate enough to ever have grandkids this is so being passed down to them.
  
  As grown as my son is in his late 20’s and recently married, I'm even thinking of reading it to him because he'll crack up.
  
  Books have always been our thing as a family. This definitely would have been one of our favorites. Who knows, can still be someday 😂
  
  Favorite highlights for me, although there could be some you identify can add to this review on Goodreads or elsewhere: using untypical colors personified. Comedic callbacks as previously touched on. Engaging the different theme potential for cross-curriculum exploration. Hilarity on steroids.
  
  Almost forgot, science exploration is possible as the story mentions the sun and a conundrum two color's face who use to argue until... Read to find out more. Poor yellow and orange.
  
  The list of favorite highlights is SO LONG Imma have to encourage you to read and see for yourself.
  
  I'm not sure why while reading the postcards from the various colors did each show up in a different audible voice in my head. As though I can hear their personalities. This, for me, is the greatest beauty of all the highlights and attributes of this classic.
  
  Another book on colors for young children is Mary O’Neill’s Hailstones and Halibut Bones: Adventures in Poetry and Color. In this book the story was developed, and if you've heard the backstory, was made into a book by accident. Eventually being used to help blind people ”see” color.
  
  If I recollect correctly, the publisher stopped by and asked about Mary’s writing and she gave permission to look through her notes. Like lots of writers Mary collected pieces of paper with lots of notes. Within the piles were vivid descriptions of colors using foods to things like trees.
  
  Like, roast beef could represent brown and so on.
  
  Compiled, these scraps of descriptions formed a book that now makes the world a more lovely place to see through the imaginations of blind people everywhere who read.
  
  The illustrations are beautiful for us sighted folks, too.
  
  Overall, this or other children’s books from Drew and Oliver are a silly way to engage children creatively. Well worth a borrow from the library or purchase for a gift.
  
  Once finished, share snacks and discuss open-ended questions about personification and made-up personalities of the colors.
  
  The final activity at the end the book is explore two skills: empathy and kindness. Qualities the world ALWAYS needs every day.
  
  Compare how Duncan realized his choices hurt his crayons and how he solved these problems.
  
  Ask questions of the children on what some of their problems are and discover ways that work and don't to make models of future options that will help the littles be successful decision makers and treat their friends and belongings with more respect and understanding.
  
  Ask children to pick a color and make up a story about the color from how they'd imagine they would feel if left behind, or forgotten in a pocket only to end up in the dryer, used a lot, or a little. The possibilities for open ended questions transformed into projects is endless with this series.
  
  The possibilities are unlimited on where these answers can lead children.
  
  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💯❤️
• 
  Archit

  Winner of the Goodreads Choice Award for Picture Book. The Crayon series is indeed a hilarious ride. The series had started with a sad news that the crayons are quitting today! As we inch further, the crayons have decided to come home now. Dive straight into this to find out what made them change their minds.
• 
  Dave Schaafsma

  I am reading, as I did the last two years, all the November nominees for the Goodreads Children's illustrated book award. Last year I read Daywalt and Jeffers' The Day the Crayons Quit and I really liked it. This is a sequel, and now the crayons are on their way home, preceded by mostly vintage postcards to a kid from various places far and near (the couch, the basement, various foreign countries.. .). As I saw it, it's like one joke extended over a whole book, like the last book, but still, it made me laugh in places, each postcard and each crayon's story is unique and funny in its own way, and the art is good for both parents and children. Kind of ends a little lamely on my opinion, as all the multi-colored crayons are finally back home and get housed together again, we are family, etc. But the kids are liking that ending better than me.
  
  But when I read this to ten year old Henry, he thinks I am too harsh: "Dad! It's funny! It's good. He thinks four stars."
  
  The whole family will read all these and I will hereafter not make the review until I get all the ratings (and will add final vote for FAVORITE!) from each family member.
  
  Fun??! Yep. I have posted on the fridge already the family rating sheet...
  
  Dave 3.5 stars
  Tara 4 stars
  Harry (10) 3.5 stars
  Henry (9) 5 stars
  Lyra (8) 5 stars
  
  So I decided to bump up my original 3 star rating to a 4 to reflect the family ratings.
  I should say I rated The Day the Crayons Quit 4 stars last year--it was one of my top five new illustrated books, though I didn't LOVE it, I liked it a lot--and my kids liked it 5 stars.
• 
  Kate Willis

  I brought this home to share with my younger sisters (though they aren't so young anymore O.o.), and we got a few good chuckles out of the hilarious escapades of the crayons. Speaking of which, why is it always a shade of blue that ends up in the dryer? XD The inside jokes and illustrations were adorable, and I loved the creativity displayed on each page. The ending was also sweet and satisfactory. Definitely one to share with my little nephews, though I'm not sure they need any ideas about what to do with crayons... XD
  
  Just a note, there is a little scatological humor involving brown crayon and another that has an unfortunate run-in with the dog...
• 
  Jessica

  Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers understand the terrible fate that awaits so many crayons. I thought THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT was fun, but this takes it to a whole new level. The text is in the form of postcards, mostly, as the crayons write back to let their owner new that some of them have been lost, broken, or have simply run away. Some were forgotten on vacation, or under couches. Some have melted in the sun, or suffered terrible fates at the hands of household pets. A tad gross, a tad bittersweet, but always funny, all three of my kids (ages 10, 7, and 3) cannot get enough of this book!
• 
  Hilary

  A pile of postcards arrive sent to a small boy, from crayons that over holidays, days out, and garden drawing sessions have been lost. Each colour describes their predicament. Aimed at young children but my 12 yr old instantly picked it up and said it was great and thought I'd taken it out of the library for her to read. Funny and beautifully presented. One minor downside, I hate it when books reinforce negative stereotypes, the green crayon says all children hate peas. The children I know love vegetables and I don't like children being told this. The rest is really good though.
• 
  Niki

  Just as brilliant and funny as the first book...maybe even better! Such a fun book!
• 
  Leisa

  I totally love these crayon books. And just for the record....I'm rooting for Neon Red!
• 
  Molly

  The Crayons are back!
  
  
  
  Of course, after reading
  The Day the Crayons Quit the story's not so new, and yet it was fun. Kids would enjoy finding some familiar faces from the first book ....and meet some new ones. Some crayons want to see the world. A few of them wants to come home ... poor left behind crayons. Some have identity issues .... and some seek shelter.
  
  P.S.
  
  I loved Esteban the Magnificent ... the crayon formerly known as PEA GREEN! Go Esteban!
  
  
• 
  Matthew

  To check out my reviews:
  http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
  
  After reading the first book it which I absolutely loved it made me cautious to read the sequel because will it live up to my expectations and will it maintain the uniqueness that makes it special? While it is a completely different book I still love and enjoyed the story and believe it is worth the read!
  
  After we reached a happily ever after with the crayons and Duncan, you might think what now? Did Duncan screw up and abuse the crayons again? The answer is yes and no. The crayons we met in the first book is fine but apparently Duncan has ignored the lesser known or used crayons.
  
  One day he receives a bunch of letters again and discover that some of the crayons he's barely used in years have come to the surface and either A.) Want to leave him or B.) Wants him to take better care of these crayons.
  
  I believe since we've already been introduced to this classic story, it doesn't feel as special and captivating since this book is following the same formula as the first one.
  
  But I will admit that the ending is completely different from what you might expect and it goes to show you that the author doesn't want this book to be predictable and while it may be similar to the first one it is still original and will still captivate Children's and Adults.
  
  The illustrations are marvelous as always and I hope they make a third book because I cannot get enough of the crayons and the humor of this series. Originally I was going to pick the new Dr. Seuss book for Best Picture Book for Goodreads Awards and because this was such a cute and funny story I voted for this book instead.
  
  Would I recommend this book to you? My answer would be yes if you want more stories about these crayons. I applaud the author and illustrator for this fantastic book and I cannot wait to see more Crayon action!
• 
  Amanda

  I just finished this picture book with my eight year old. Like the prequel The Day the Crayons Quit, this was a cute and clever book. My daughter really enjoyed it but stated that she liked the first one better.
  
  In this book the less often used crayons are the primary characters, and they send postcards to Duncan to explain where they have been since they went missing. The illustrations are nice. My favorite part of the book was all of the hilarious postcards from Neon Red. The textured page for Glow in the Dark Crayon was also fun. Be forewarned that there is some crude humor (references to scabs, doggie vomit, and bear pooh), but kids do seem to find that funny.
  
  
• 
  Kathy

  Not as good as the original but fun to have a sequel. The Day the Crayons Quit is my daughters favorite.
• 
  Otis Chandler

  Fun sequel to the original.
• 
  Karis

  I love how universal picture books are! That I was a senior in highschool could love and appreciate the imagination poured into this book right along with my younger siblings all middle school and up. They both give a heart echo to my 5 star rating.
  
  Little Pea Green's dear and humorous name change and Neon Pink's world travels on his journey back home after being left behind at a hotel were highlights I enjoyed. I think I'll forever want to call pea green crayons Esteban the Magnificent now. :) With a simple but humorously written plot, this book was a fun read, and I fully plan on remembering them when my nieces and nephews are old enough to sit through and enjoy a story like this.
• 
  Sofia

  Não pensei que fosse possível repetir o sucesso do " O dia em que os lápis desistiram", mas estava enganada.
  Adorei!
• 
  Elena

  Dear Duncan,
  
  No one likes peas. No one even likes the color pea green. So I'm changing my name and running away to see the world.
  
  Sincerely,
  Esteban...the Magnificent!
  (the crayon formerly known as Pea Green)

  
  Dear Duncan,
  
  I don't know why you've put your crayons through so much agony when they are so hilarious (though I must say that I found Brown Crayon's complaint unjustified--"Bear Goes in the Woods" is a masterpiece). I'm glad you've seen the error of your ways, and hope to hear more from your crayon friends in the future.
  
  Sincerely,
  Elena
• 
  Shaikhah

  The color Esteban was so funny :)
  
  What about the Orange and Yellow, ha ha ha so funny...
  
  Neon Red crayon, OMG... too funny
  
  I advice everyone to give it their kids..
• 
  Roya

  ایده ی شیرینی بود
• 
  Kelly

  A lovely sequel to the first. Well-written and a great read for young ones.
• 
  Abigail

  In this amusing follow-up to their initial collaboration,
  The Day the Crayons Quit, author Drew Daywalt and illustrator Oliver Jeffers return to the theme of discontented crayons who communicate their complaints to their young owner by means of notes. In this collection, we have a number of crayons who have gone missing or been abandoned, and who want to be returned to their home. From the geographically confused Neon Red, who imagines he is in New Jersey whilst seeing the pyramids at Giza, to Orange and Yellow, who argued in the first title about which should be the color of the sun, only to find themselves melted together by the heat of that heavenly body, the crayons here just want to come back to the crayon box. All, that is, save Pea Green (AKA Esteban the Magnificent), who decides to embark on an adventure of his own...
  
  Like its predecessor, The Day the Crayons Came Home is a humorous look at a group of crayons and their various misadventures. These crayons communicate with Duncan via postcards, and their experiences reflect the fact that children are not always very careful with their belongings, and that those belongings sometimes end up in odd places, and in rather poor condition. My favorite of the lot was Esteban, whose multiple postcards to Duncan punctuate the other crayons' missives, and follow him on his (very short) effort at independence. The artwork here, again like its predecessor, is not a personal favorite, aesthetically speaking, but matches the tale to perfection, capturing the 'scribbly' feeling of a child's own first coloring and drawing attempts. Recommended to anyone who enjoyed the first picture-book about the crayons, or to those looking for children's stories with a good sense of fun and humor.
• 
  Dee Dee G

  My son loved this.
• 
  Stewart

  Don't get me wrong- I LOVED the first book and Oliver Jeffers is one of my favorite illustrators in the whole world. But this kinda feels a little bit like more of the same. And I know that's a terrible thing to say when the first book was SO good. The writing is clever, the artwork is still fantastic, but this one is really saved from sequel-itis by two things: 1. the travails of Pea Green crayon (aka Esteban) which brought out genuine laugh-out-loud moments, and 2. the last couple of pages which will not be spoiled here. As much as I like these books, I'm hoping that Drew and Oliver decide to go on to something else after this.
• 
  Linda Lipko

  The sequel to The Day The Crayons Quit, is very disappointing. While the first book was marvelous with laugh out loud moments and high marks for creativity, this second book falls flat and a smashed crayon found in the sofa cushions.
  
  Basically, the crayons grow weary of their locale and plead with their owner to allow they to return. Told in a series of post cards, and images of traumatic things that occurred during their trek to find someone who appreciated them, some pages are cute, some are creative, but, most lack creativity. The box of crayons no longer have a colorful story to tell.
• 
  Britany

  Picked this up to kill two challenges with one book. This book is adorable, loved how each crayon managed to have a story and a personality. The author also used postcards to tell Duncan (the boy owner of the crayons) to rescue them and bring them home! One I will have to remember if I ever have a chance to read a story to a child.
• 
  Calista

  A colorful story about a boy and his crayons. The book is postcards he receives from all those crazy crayons. I found the postcards a little hard to read and the story is fun. My niece begged me to read this to her and she felt it had funny parts.
• 
  Ann

  Hilarious.
• 
  Emily Scheinman

  A wonderful sequel. One of my favorite pages is where you can feel the texture of the crayon!