The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons
by Leanne Hatch (Author)
Nothing is better than a brand new box of crayons. Violet loves hers so much that she refuses to share them--or even to use them-- but maybe her little sister is on to something . . .
Violet is ecstatic when she earns her very own super big box of eighty-four crayons all matching in length, perfectly pointed, each in their smooth, uniform wrapper. There's even one with her name on it. She can't stop imagining all the wonderful things she can draw with them.
But when it comes time to get busy, she can't seem to do it--she doesn't want to ruin all that perfection. It isn't until her little sister takes matters into her own hands that Violet is able to let go and have fun drawing all the things she dreamed up when she first got her box of brand-new, never-used, perfect crayons.
With The Brand-New, Never-Used, Perfect Crayons, Leanne Hatch taps into the joy of sharing, creating, and letting go of perfectionism. Adorable art set alongside textured crayon sketches reminiscent of classics like Harold and the Purple Crayon makes this a book perfectly suited for the shelves of young creatives everywhere.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
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ALA/Booklist
The writing shows a fine-tuned awareness of young children's emotions. . . . An appealing, rewarding read-aloud choice.
Kirkus
Rife with valuable lessons about the creative process.
None
This story makes a useful social-emotional learning resource and will resonate with anyone hesitant to change or with tendencies toward perfectionism.
Publishers Weekly
Budding artist Violet is smitten when she spots a box of 84 crayons and imagines "all the wonderful things she could draw with that many colors." But, though the drawings-to-be--jungle animals that crowd a spread--accompany pale-skinned Violet when she asks for the box and does the necessary chores to earn it, the creatures seem to scatter when she can't bear to mar the brand-new art supplies. As her sister happily scribbles with the broken nubs of old crayons, Violet finds the result to be "a mess," believing that "beauty is found in a super big box of brand-new, never-used perfect crayons." Sibling mischief eventually helps Violet unleash her imagination in a moment that emphasizes the existence of the imperfect in creativity. Hatch's digital renderings of appropriately crayon-like images capture the believable sibling dynamic behind this story of artistic expression and new beginnings. Ages 4-8. (Aug.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
Textured, crayon-like strokes create a colorful, relatable world. The text uses accessible language and conveys its message about embracing the imperfect without being overly didactic. This story makes a useful social-emotional learning resource and will resonate with anyone hesitant to change or with tendencies toward perfectionism.—The Horn Book
JUV051000 - Juvenile Fiction | Imagination & Play
JUV063000 - Juvenile Fiction | Recycling & Green Living
Sisters
Crayons
