Harold and the Purple Crayon

"Harold and the Purple Crayon" is the story of a four year old who gets where he wants by drawing it with his purple crayon.   That's the long and the short of the story but like most classics, there is more to the story than it seems.
When we first meet Harold it is just he and his crayon. But then he decides to go for a walk in the moonlight. There isn't any moon, so Harold draws one. Then he draws something to walk on. Harold draws a long straight path but eventually, when he realizes he isn't getting anywhere, he leaves the path. Harold decides his entire destiny based on his purple crayon, including, a frightening dragon under an apple tree, a forest with one tree,  an ocean and a city. Eventually Harold manages to find his way to his home and his bed.
This is a very short easy to read book, but the kids will enjoy it very much. Any child who reads it will sympathize with Harold's dilemmas and enjoy how he uses his purple crayon to get himself out of trouble.
The story is illustrated in basic colors of blue, white, and of course purple.  As I had said last week, today's children might find it a little monotonous to see only a few select colors in the story, but the effect is soothing. The effect is especially helpful when settling your little ones down at bedtime.
Crockett Johnson, the author of the book, was a Connecticut native, who eventually moved to the Lon Island Sound.  He spent his time there sailing, an mentoring Maurice Sendak, another famous children's author. In addition to this book, Johnson wrote a daily comic strip called Barnaby, "The Carrot Seed" and other Harold stories. All of the children's stories are illustrated in the same soothing way.
Pull your favorite four year old on your lap, along with a purple crayon and a pad. Then read them this book.  You'll be glad you did.