Red: A Crayon’s Story
“Sometimes I wonder if he’s really red at all.”
“Red: A Crayon’s Story,” is a story so many of us can relate to - even those of us who are not inanimate objects.
Red is a crayon who was given the wrong label at the factory. Although he is called red, he cannot create red work. His friends and family do everything they can to fix him and he becomes increasingly frustrated and disappointed in himself. Try as he might, he cannot be red.
Finally, a friend asks him to create a blue ocean, and he does - easily! Everyone including Red himself realizes that his label is wrong and he is blue. Immediately, they all rejoice and celebrate his blueness. They even called him brilliant.
This story raises a lot of important questions about identity. How do we know who we are? How much influence do our friends and family have about how we feel about ourselves? A lot.
We love that this book could be used to support children in the LGBTQ+ community, but can also connect to anyone who has ever felt like they were mislabeled by those around them.
We hope this story becomes a classic. Each time we read it, we find new connections and hidden valuable messages about acceptance and love.
Some things to think about…
How do you know who you are?
If you could name yourself as a color, what color would best describe you and why?
Activity idea: When Red gets frustrated coloring a stoplight, you can tell by the change in the pattern of his drawing. Can you color feelings? Create patterns and texture using crayons and label them as different feelings you know.
“Everyone seemed to have something to say”
