The Day the Crayons Came Home

Starred review from June 22, 2015
How do you follow a hit like The Day the Crayons Quit? Stick with what works, and add a twist: instead of letters, Duncan receives a stack of postcards from crayons that have been misplaced or maligned, or are ready for adventure. A directionally challenged neon red crayon tries to get home after being abandoned at a motel; a trip through the dryer has left a turquoise crayon stuck to a sock; and a chunky toddler crayon can’t abide Duncan’s baby brother (“Picasso said every child is an artist, but I dunno”). Once again, Daywalt and Jeffers create rich emotional lives and personalities for their colorful cast, and it’s hard to imagine a reader who won’t be delighted. Ages 5–8. Author’s agent: Steven Malk, Writers House. Illustrator’s agent: Paul Moreton, Bell, Lomax, Moreton Agency.

July 15, 2015
Duncan's crayons are back in this comical sequel to The Day the Crayons Quit (2013), and this time they need to be rescued. Maroon is broken and has been stuffed between the couch cushions, Turquoise got stuck to a sock in the dryer, and Orange and Yellow have melted together in the hot sun. Though a few crayons might have been more aptly placed in the first book-Pea Green has run away because no one likes peas or the color pea green-Daywalt and Jeffers still manage to treat readers to a new story. Mixed-media illustrations, done with crayons and photographic postcards, introduce lively new scenery and brilliant characters. Big Chunky Toddler Crayon is desperate to escape from Duncan's baby brother; Neon Red is on a cross-country trip back to Duncan's house after having been left behind on a family vacation; and Glow in the Dark needs rescuing from the sinister basement. Both Neon Red and Glow in the Dark are reproduced with astounding vibrancy, and readers who turn out the lights while viewing Glow in the Dark's postcard are in for a real surprise. Fans of Jeffers will be charmed when they discover characters from his previous works hidden in the postcards' stamps. This new cast of crayons will entertain readers, and admirers of the first book will be pleased to see a few familiar colors. (Picture book. 3-7)

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Starred review from August 1, 2015

K-Gr 2-Duncan's crayons are back in this companion to the spectacular The Day the Crayons Quit (Philomel, 2014), and they are just as forthright as ever. A stack of postcards arrive for the neglectful boy, this time written by a new batch of crayons who have been forgotten at motels, lost under the couch, or left behind in the basement. Maroon has been marooned under the sofa, having been broken by Duncan's dad, who sat on it, Tan (or Burnt Sienna) has seen better days and has recently been puked up by the dog, and old frenemies Orange and Yellow have melted in the sun to become one gooey mess. Recurring postcards from Pea Green (aka Esteban), who dreams of traveling, and clueless Neon Red, who writes about grand adventures abroad, will elicit giggles from young ones. Jeffers's mixed-media illustrations of photographed postcards and childlike crayon drawings against white backdrops enhance kid appeal and encourage close visual reading. A glow-in-the-dark spread and chatty household items, such as a sock, a paper clip, and a pencil sharpener, are new aspects to look forward to, and the general theme of home being a place where everyone belongs will resonate with old and young readers alike. VERDICT A brilliant, colorful tale that begs to be read aloud and a must-have for all collections.-Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2015
Preschool-G *Starred Review* The crayons are back! Well, not all of them. Some of them are scattered hither and yon, and although they'd certainly like to return to Duncan, they'll need his help for that. Happily, all have had access to postcards, which arrive for the boy in a single packet. These cards aren't of the wish-you-were-here variety. See, Maroon Crayon has been lost under the couch since Duncan's dad sat on him and broke him in half. Tan Crayon was eaten by the dog and puked up on the rug. Neon Red, whose star turn was when she depicted sunburn, was left behind on vacation. Only one crayon wants out, not back in: Pea Green, who realizes everyone hates his color, wants to escape to see the world. (Also, he is changing his name to Esteban the Magnificent.) A masterwork of humor and design, this has charmingly realistic postcards facing clever depictions of each crayon's plight: Turquoise stuck to a sock (after a ride in the dryer), Brown morose after having been used to draw bear poop, and so forth. The reunion of the crayons leads to a wonderfully imaginative final spread, in which cardboard boxes provide an apartment complex of new homes. Sure to be as popular as The Day the Crayons Quit (2013). Whatever will they do next?HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: The first book was a bit of a blockbuster, and there's no reason the crayons won't continue to color their own paths to glory.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)