The Day the Crayons Quit Book Read Aloud

Introduction

The Day the Crayons Quit.This book was written by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers. The book is about crayons scattered throughout the world and in the home of a boy named Duncan, and how they interact with him through letters. The book is an exciting picture book.
Published by Penguin Round House. and supported by Arty Crafty Kids book club craft and enterprises for kids.
Duncan wants to color. But when he begins his box of crayons, he sees only letters, all telling the same thing: We quit!

The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

One day in class, Duncan went to take out his crayons and found a stack of letters with his name on them.

Hey, Duncan, it’s me, Red Crayon, we need to talk. You make me work harder than any of your other crayons. All year long I wear myself out coloring fire engines, apples, strawberries, and everything else that’s red. I even work on holidays. I have to color all the Santas at Christmas and all the hearts on Valentine’s Day. I need a rest. You’re overworked friend, Red Crayon.

Dear Duncan, all right, listen, I love that I’m your favorite crayon for grapes and dragons and wizards’ hats but it makes me crazy that so much of my gorgeous color goes outside of lines. If you don’t start coloring inside the lines soon, I’m going to completely lose it. Your very neat friend, Purple Crayon.

Dear Duncan, I’m tired of being called light brown or dark tan because I am neither. I am beige and I am proud. I’m also tired of being second place to Mr. Brown Crayon. It’s not fair that brown gets all the bears, ponies, puppies while the only things I get are turkey dinners if I’m lucky, and wheat. Let’s be honest, when was the last time you saw a kid excited about coloring wheat? Your beige friend, Beige Crayon.

Duncan, Gray Crayon here, you’re killing me. I know you love elephants and I know that elephants are gray but that’s a lot of space to color in all by myself. And don’t even get me started on you’re rhinos, hippos, and humpback whales. You know how tired I am after handling one of those big things? Such big animals. Baby penguins are great, you know, so are very tiny rocks, pebbles, how about one of those once in a while? It could be a break. Your very tired friend, Gray Crayon.

Dear Duncan, you color with me, but why? Most of the time I’m the same color as the page you’re using me on, white. If I didn’t have a black outline, you wouldn’t even know I was there. I’m not even in the rainbow. I’m only used to color snow or to fill in empty space between other things and it leaves me feeling, well, empty. We need to talk. Your empty friend, White Crayon.

Hi, Duncan. I hate being used to draw the outline of things. Things that are colored in by other colors, all of which think they’re brighter than me. It’s not fair when you use me to draw a nice beach ball and then fill in the colors of the ball with all the other crayons. How about a black beach ball sometimes, is that too much to ask? Your friend, Black Crayon.

Dear Duncan, as Green Crayon, I’m writing for two reasons. One is to say that I like my work, loads of crocodiles, trees, dinosaurs, and frogs. I have no problems and wish to congratulate you on a very successful coloring thing green career so far. The second reason I write is for my friends, Yellow Crayon and Orange Crayon, who are no longer speaking to each other. Both crayons feel they should be the color of the Sun. Please settle this soon because they’re driving the rest of us crazy. Your happy friend, Green Crayon.

Dear Duncan, Yellow Crayon here. I need you to tell Orange Crayon that I am the color of the sun. I would tell him but we are no longer speaking and I can prove I’m the color of the sun too. Last Tuesday, you used me to color in the sun on your “Happy Farm” coloring book. In case you’ve forgotten, it’s on page 7, you can’t miss me. I’m shining down brilliantly on a field of yellow corn. Your pal, and the true color of the sun, Yellow Crayon.

Dear Duncan, oh, I see Yellow Crayon already talked to you, the big whiner. Anyway, could you please tell Mr. Tattletale that he is not the real color of the sun? I would but we’re no longer speaking. We both know I am clearly the color of the sun because on Thursday, you used me to color the sun on both the Monkey Island and the Meet the Zookeeper pages in your “Day At The Zoo” coloring book. Orange you glad I’m here? Ha. Your pal, and the real color of the sun, Orange Crayon.

Dear Duncan, it has been great being your favorite color this past year, and the year before, and the year before that. I have really enjoyed all those oceans, lakes, rivers, raindrops, rain clouds, and clear skies. But the bad news is that I’m so short and stubby I can’t even see over the railing in the crayon box anymore, hmm. I need a break. Your very stubby friend, Blue Crayon.

Duncan, okay, listen here, kid, you have not used me once in the past year. It’s because you think I’m a girl’s color, isn’t it? Speaking of which, please tell your little sister I said thank you for using me to color in her little princess coloring book. I think she did a fabulous job of staying inside the lines. Now, back to us, could you please use me some time to color the occasional pink dinosaur, or monster, or cowboy? Goodness knows they could use a splash of color. Your unused friend, Pink Crayon.

Hey Duncan, it’s me, Peach Crayon. Why did you peel off my paper wrapping? Now, I’m naked and too embarrassed to leave the box. I don’t even have any underwear. How would you like to go to school naked? I need some clothes. Help. Your naked friend, Peach Crayon.