Strawberries are blue. Fire engines are blue. Red ants are ... well, blue.
People start talking. Maybe he's not so sharp. That is, until purple comes along and changes everything.
This is a vibrantly clever story with a dual storyline--one a simple narrative and another consisting of peppered thoughts and words from the other crayons. The parallel is entertaining, funny and charming--so much so, the characterisation of a simple blue stick with a red wrapping becomes really heartwarming.
Perfect for kids learning about colour or individuality or being true to oneself or just looking for a story that firmly sits outside the square, this is entertaining as it is brain-expanding. I particularly enjoyed the gorgeous, naive-style illustrations and Michael Hall's author voice--hip, current, utterly kid-friendly and dry.
Quirk and colour at its best.
Title: Red: A Crayon's Story
Author/Illustrator: Michael Hall
Publisher: HarperCollins, $24.99 RRP
Publication Date: 1 March 2015
Format: Hardcover with dust jacket
ISBN: 9780062252074
For ages: 2 - 8
Type: Picture Book
