Let’s face it: they’ve had it. I’m talking about the crayons in your kid’s desk. After months and months of grubby little hands completing classwork, decorating book covers and instilling creativity in any capacity, these dutiful classroom staples have done their due diligence–and then some. And if you think you’re exhausted, just get a load of their cracked disposition. In one of the most inventive picture books of the year, The Day the Crayons Quit, these crayons finally declare “enough!” and share their feelings with a boy named Duncan, their resident artist. Told through a collection of hilarious missives, each color explains why life hasn’t actually been fair lately and makes compelling arguments for their individual cases. From the over-worked red who “even works holidays” with all those Santas and valentines, to under-used black, who’d love to be something more than just an outline, readers both young and old are sure to see life as a crayon in a whole new light. ( My 5-year-old thought the peach crayon, sans wrapper and without any underwear, was hilarious.) By story’s end, each crayon finally has his 15 minutes and can once again resume their roles. The result of this laugh-out-loud read? You’ll never be able to look at burnt sienna the same way again.
In a Nutshell: No matter if you’ve got broken pieces in your diaper bag, or others smashed in your playroom carpet, you’ve found a true work of art that both you and your kids will relish.
