The Day the Crayons Quit
Written by Drew Daywalt Illustrations by Oliver Jeffers Philomel, 2013
What if your crayons could write you back? Duncan gets letters from many colors in his box with their various compliments and complaints about their work in the coloring industry. This book is uniquely on the 20142015 Armadillo Readers’ Choice & Texas Bluebonnet Award Master Lists, and now it’s a #1 New York Times Best Seller!
About the Author Drew Daywalt has been a movie director for the past twenty years, but originally majored in Creative Writing in college. After having kids of his own, he set out to write his first book The Day the Crayons Quit. It’s been voted the best picture book of the year by Amazon and Goodreads. Learn more at his publisher's website.
About the Illustrator Oliver Jeffers is the author and illustrator of many best selling picture books. He is from Northern Ireland but currently lives in Brooklyn, New York, with his wife and family. He is an artist in the traditional sense as well, exhibiting many projects, installations and sculptures around the world. Learn more at his website oliverjeffers.com.
Accompanying Activities
1. Language Arts: Character Feelings & Character Traits Students will simultaneously read The Day the Crayons Quit and view a Google Presentation to learn about characters, the reasons for their actions, and the difference between character feelings and character traits. Google Presentation Link: http://tinyurl.com/crayonsrrisd ● Reading/Comprehension of Literary Text/Fiction – Students understand, make inferences and draw conclusions about the structure and elements of fiction and provide evidence from text to support their understanding. Students are expected to: ○ Kindergarten TEKS: ELAR 110.11 (b) 8 B: Describe characters in a story and the reasons for their actions. ○ 1st Grade TEKS: ELAR 110.12 (b) 9 B: Describe characters in a story and the reasons for their actions and feelings. ○ 2nd Grade TEKS: ELAR 112.13 (b) 9 B: Describe main characters in works of fiction, including their traits, motivations, and feelings.
TEKS – Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Armadillo Readers’ Choice 20142015 1 © Round Rock Independent School District, Library Services
2. Language Arts: Letter Writing After reading The Day the Crayons Quit, students will write a letter to one of the crayons to convince them not to quit. ● Writing/Expository and Procedural Texts – Students write expository and procedural or workrelated texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes. Students are expected to: ○ Kindergarten TEKS: ELAR 110.11 (b) 15: Write expository and procedural or workrelated texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes. Students are expected to dictate or write information for lists, captions, or invitations. ○ 1st Grade TEKS: ELAR 110.12 (b) 19 B: Write short letters that put ideas in a chronological or logical sequence and use appropriate conventions (e.g., date, salutation, closing). ○ 2nd Grade TEKS: ELAR 110.13 (b) 19 B: Write short letters that put ideas in a chronological or logical sequence and use appropriate conventions (e.g., date, salutation, closing).
Companion Books
Other Books Written by Oliver Jeffers The Great Paper Caper. Philomel, 2009. The Heart and the Bottle. Philomel, 2010. How to Catch a Star. Philomel, 2004. Incredible Book Eating Boy. Philomel, 2007. Stuck. Philomel, 2011. This Moose Belongs to Me. Philomel, 2012.
Books About Crayons dePaola, Tomie. The Art Lesson. Penguin, 1989. Johnson, Crockett. Harold and the Purple Crayon. Harper, 1955. Rusch, Elizabeth. A Day With No Crayons. Cooper Square Publishing, 2007. Van Allsburg, Chris. Bad Day at Riverbend. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers, 1995.
Books About Writing Letters Ahlberg, Janet. Jolly Postman. Little Brown, 2001. Gravett, Emily. Meerkat Mail. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2007. James, Simon. Dear Mr. Blueberry. Aladdin, 1996. Stewart, Sarah. The Gardener. Square Fish, 2007. Teague, Mark. Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School. Scholastic Press, 2003.
Book Promotion Ideas Crayon Day Since this title is in the unique position of being on both the Armadillo Readers’ Choice Award and Texas Bluebonnet Award list in the ‘14’15 school year, celebrate this book throughout your campus by encouraging every student to wear monochromatic clothing and having a fun assembly celebrating color, literature and this wonderful book.
Digital Resources Author’s Website http://www.penguin.com/book/thedaythecrayonsquitbydrewdaywalt/9780399255373
TEKS – Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Armadillo Readers’ Choice 20142015 2 © Round Rock Independent School District, Library Services
Illustrator’s Website oliverjeffers.com. Oliver Jeffers Author Video #2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2rm6vrJw3A Oliver Jeffers, Author’s Top Writing Tips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdOb5PoWUa4 Oliver Jeffers, Picture Book Maker: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KZu0X82l7k What If? (article by Drew Daywalt) http://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2013/10/06/whatifbydrewdaywalt/
TEKS – Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills Armadillo Readers’ Choice 20142015 3 © Round Rock Independent School District, Library Services