The Crayons are Back!

Picture Book: The Day the Crayons Came Home

Author: Drew Daywalt

Illustrator: Oliver Jeffers 

Summary: Poor Duncan! Now he must contend with a new group of crayons. 

A bunch of postcards arrive, each with a tale of separation and longing for home. 

Maroon Crayon has been stuck in the couch since Duncan’s father sat on him. 

Pea Green Crayon (who has changed his name to Esteban the Magnificent!) runs away because no one likes the color pea green.

Neon Red Crayon, who was dropped by the pool at a vacation spot, is giving up on Duncan’s rescue and walking home. 

She makes her way back despite being geographically challenged. Here she says she's just entered New Jersey via China, Canada, & France!

No longer sunny, Yellow and Orange, who argued about the color of the sun in the first book, have now melted together since being left outside.

Tan crayon was eaten by the dog and puked up on the rug. He’s downstairs in a fuzzy mess. 

Since Halloween, Glow in the Dark Crayon has been trapped in the basement. (If you “charge” these pages with light, they’ll glow.) 

Gold crayon is worn down and stuck in a sharpener 

after coloring every coin in Captain Green Beard’s treasure. 

Turquoise Crayon has a sock stuck to his head thanks to the dryer. He had been left in Duncan’s pocket. 

Big Chunky Toddler Crayon (who belongs to Duncan’s younger brother), can’t take the rough handling anymore and pleads for rescue. 

Lastly, Brown Crayon ran away out of embarrassment when Duncan colored a particular scribble. 

Duncan does go and rescue his crayon friends. After their ordeals, he decides they deserve a new home and creates a wonderful place for them.

Hanna’s Comments: Here at PBT, I connected Daywalt’s bestseller, The Day the Crayons Quit, to the spiritual concept of speaking truth to power. Check out that post [here]. Duncan’s crayons are also featured in a couple of board books for very young children: The Crayons Book of Colors & The Crayons Book of Numbers. For a ministry idea using the book featured here, consider a biblical literacy lesson by helping your audience empathize with the Jewish diaspora. You see evidence of the diaspora in Bible stories in which many travel to Jerusalem (i.e. the story of Pentecost). This is a key concept for understanding the culture and desires of Jews in both testaments. Another idea: There are several Bible stories about going home or longing to be at a spiritual home (some listed below). And of course, the concept of savior is throughout our holy scriptures. 

Original Publisher & Date: Philomel Bks, 2015

Age & Grade Appropriateness: 5 and up, K and up

Formats other than Book: Tablet

Scripture Connections: Jacob returns home (Genesis 33); Naomi returns home (Ruth 1); exiles return to Jerusalem (Ezra 1 & 2); the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)

Idea(s) for Application: Desires for home, to a place where one lives or where one worships, are powerful spiritual longings as are desires to explore new places. Use this hilarious book to help your audience consider why God places these desire in us.