The Crayon Box that Talked

Nice little book about a box of crayons who learn that being different is ok but that they can still work together to complete the picture. This would be great for k-2 classes about working together and being different but still being part of the class.

I purchased this book for my first grade class as an example on how to get along with others! The illustrations were very colorful and the students did a problem and solution graph on what happened in the story! Definitely recommend this book, the kids loved it!

Favorite of my daughters when they were little - one of my go-to books for baby showers. Very good message - unfortunate that people here are criticizing it for not having any one of color in it when the whole message is inclusivity - there are 2 whole people in the book and one only appears once! Next thing you know, men's groups are going to get upset that men are not represented because neither character is male.

I like this story. It’s about crayons that have to learn to get along, in a box together. I used this book as a teacher, quite often. It teaches diversity – the fact that we’re not all the same on the outside. It talks about acceptance – being able to be with other people and work together even though you may be different. So this is a really nice story to talk about classroom community and being a classroom family. This book also talks about respect – respecting each other’s differences.

Maria Dismondy, author of Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are

Shane DeRolf, The Crayon Box that Talked (Scholastic, 1996)

Cute, if not terribly above-average, book about the celebration of difference—none of the crayons in the box gets along until an optimistic child buys the box, takes it home, and shows all the colors how they have to work together to create a picture. It took the Bean quite a while to warm up to this one, but I think he's getting the hang of it now. Not sure how well it holds up to repeated re-reads, since he never asks for them with this one, but nice enough in small doses. ***

This was my daughter’s favorite book. We read it constantly. She is now 18 years old and is finishing her first year of college. This book still sits on her library shelf where she displays it proudly!

I read this to my first graders during African American history month and then we did a lesson on what if everything was just one color. I had them draw a picture of outside (grass, trees, sky, etc.) but they could only use one color. I put crayons in a bucket and students, without looking, had to pick one color. The point was to show them that things would not look so good if it were all one color and how the world is a better place with different colors.

When a little girl overhears a box of crayons who doesn't get along complaining in a toy store, she decides to bring them home. She creates a picture, showing the crayons a thing or two about valuing one another and working together to create something even greater than is possible when standing alone. Colorful illustrations and rhyme combine to tell this creative story about teamwork and kindness.

I absolutely love this book and the message behind it. I read this to my daughter when she was younger and as a Read Aloud Volunteer have read and shared this message with many children. I would recommend it to any family/teacher/volunteer wanting to teach children about diversity and how special it is to accept the differences in people.

We regularly use this book for team building training for teens and adults. Before "story time" we hand out crayons to the group. The participants are asked what color they would like and then are given a different color (as an example that in life you don't get to pick your gifts and talents!). And then everyone gets to sign the book with their crayon. This book is a hit with all ages and a fun way of dealing with the serious topics of respecting differences and working as a team.

I frequently use books to teach lessons (in an indirect way) to students. My area of expertise is teaching students with disabilities.
For the individuals that I teach, it is important to make them think about issues -- rather than "telling" them what to think.
This books lends itself to some great discussions. Recently a friend of mine used it with members of the Student Council at our high school -- they LOVED it!!!
A must have...(along with Giraffes Can't Dance).
J. Michael Woods, M.Ed.
Teacher, Exceptional Student Education
Doctoral Student, Florida Atlantic University

This book was great. While attending the TASC (Tennessee Student Council) state convention, one of our keynote speakers read us this book. This was to about 650 junior high and high school students. The kids loved the book. It is one of those books that no matter how old you are, it carries a powerful message. I am buying it for myself (36 year old teacher) and my classes.

I recently purchased a dozen copies of "The Crayon Box That Talked" to give to friends and this evening a request to write a review popped up. Interesting, for sure. (And certainly rare when an author is asked to review his or her own book.) But what the heck...here goes: "I LOVE THIS BOOK! I THINK EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD SHOULD BUY A COPY. OR TWO!"