Imagination reigns in timeless classic about drawing boy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 2+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
very little
Harold draws a dragon that chases him briefly, scaring him. He also falls off of a mountain he's drawn, but he quickly draws a hot-air balloon to rescue himself.
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Make your own fun by using your imagination. Persevere in the face of a challenge. Take care when you're on your own to not get lost, and go to bed when you're tired.
Positive Role Models
some
Harold is imaginative, courageous, self-sufficient, and cautious. He keeps an eye on where he's going, takes measures to avoid getting lost, asks for help when he needs it, and goes to bed when he's tired.
Educational Value
a little
Shows how much fun you can have with just one crayon (hopefully used only on the appropriate paper!) and your imagination.
Diverse Representations
very little
Harold is a light-skinned boy, and the author-illustrator is a White man.
Parents need to know that Harold and the Purple Crayon is a classic children's book by Crockett Johnson first published in 1955 featuring a calm, upbeat, but mostly silent little boy who creates his surroundings with his ever-present purple crayon. He makes up his own fun and even gets scared by some of his drawings: He's chased by a dragon he draws, he falls off of a mountain he draws, and he has to draw a boat to save himself from drowning in the sea he accidentally draws. Successive generations have enjoyed Harold's inventive adventures, and the character has reappeared in six other children's books by the same author. Harold and the Purple Crayon has been adapted for an animated HBO Family TV series as well as a feature film, and is available as an app.
i watched/ read this with my mom when I was a child.
i watched/ read this with my mom when I was a child. This made us really happy, still does.
What's the Story?
In HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON, Harold is a little boy who always has his purple crayon with him. He decides to go for a walk in the moonlight, but there's no moon, so he draws a crescent one and then draws a straight path to walk on so he won't get lost. The moon goes with him as he walks. He draws an apple tree, a dragon to guard it, and so on, creating settings, situations (a picnic full of pies), and transportation (a boat, a hot-air balloon) as the need or whim arises. And of course, when he decides to return home, there's only one way: To draw his way back.
This timeless story has been a hit with young readers since it was first published in 1955. Harold and the Purple Crayon is simple enough to delight a toddler and clever enough for parents to enjoy as a whimsical celebration of endless, spontaneous creativity.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about why Harold and the Purple Crayon has been loved by kids for generations. What makes it so appealing?
Harold has to persevere through a few sticky situations in the book. What would you draw if a dragon were chasing you?
Available on:
Paperback, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle, App
Last updated:
December 13, 2018
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
