“He made a long straight path so he wouldn’t get lost. And he set off on his walk,taking his big purple crayon with him.” ~Crockett Johnson, Harold and the Purple Crayon
This book has been here since 1955. And it’s been one of my favourites since…well…let’s just say sometime in the early 70’s. The enduring popularity of Harold and the Purple Crayon reminds us that a good book doesn’t need a whoe lot of bells and whistles, or a lot of colour. This story lives on in our imaginations because Harold does what we all wanted to as children.
Harold has the magical ability to draw pictures that become just what he needs at that exact moment. His imagination empowers him and keeps him safe. He represents every child…he creates and he makes things happen for himself.
I read this book to the smalls and they were captivated…on the edge of their seats as Harold drew himself from one adventure to the next.
They loved to see the moon in every drawing…it was a symbol of security to them as much as it was to Harold. It was something they could see and point out no matter what trouble Harold was finding himself in. “There’s the moon! There’s the moon!” They would all shout it out on every page!
When we finished reading the book, we talked about all the things Harold and drawn and seen on his adventure back to his bedroom. They remembered them all.
Before reading the story, I had covered our art room floor with white paper and gathered all the purple crayons in the house. I gave each child a “strip” of the floor to draw and recreate what they remembered from the story.
I’ll share with you a few snippets of their adventures with Harold…
The whole afternoon was spent drawing on the art room floor. The smalls would come back to the book every once in a while to see if they’d forgotten anything…
Some of them even tried to sound out the words and read it themselves! It warms my heart to see kids reading. It especially delights me when I see them reading books that I read and enjoyed as a child because I know how thrilled they are with each word and each illustration. I remember.
Just as this book is simple yet powerful, so was this activity. The smalls were happily engaged in their own “life-sized” adventure with a purple crayon…just as Harold was.
Now it’s your turn for some adventure! It’s time once again for the Weekly Kid’s Co-op! Link your kid-friendly activity up below, or just browse around and see what adventures appeal to you and the smalls in your life! Have fun!!
Thanks for stopping by!
~Arlee, Small Potatoes
Small Potatoes 
What a great idea! I love Harold and the Purple Crayon, and this activity looks so fun and easy. Would you mind if I posted a link to your post on my blog? I write reviews of children’s books and I think my readers would enjoy hearing about this.
-Katie
Thank you! And I don’t mind at all! Thanks for sharing!
Happy to share! Here’s the link: http://wp.me/p2zoUo-7o
This is such a nice idea! I notice before that you put 2 melamine boards to protect your carpet(I have carpet in my dayhome as well) if you don’t mind me asking,how did you attached them to the floor?
Hi Lucie, they are not attached. They are soooo heavy, they don’t go anywhere without a lot of effort! 😉
Oh Even better! I think I might do the same. I have put another carpet under our table but it’s not very practical so the melamine sounds great loll
This idea is wonderful. I love the vivid photographs. It just so happens, purple is my new favorite color.
Thank you very much! I have a lot of purple lovers here, too!!
Confession:::::I have never read this book…ever!!! But I’m am definitely going to now Arlee…xoxoxo
Reblogged this on rozpusc wlosy kobieto.
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Great photos and I LOVE the simplicity of the project. Harold and the Purple Crayon is one of my favorite children’s classics. I can’t wait to try this with my boys. Shared on my FB page too.
Thank you, Malia! I love it when things are simple AND effective!! 🙂
i can’t tell you how much i love the paper covering the whole floor. Very rarely do i see someone’s childcare and think I wish I could send my Goblin there, but yours is one.
Awww…that is the best compliment. Ever. Thank you!!! 🙂
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I’m an art teacher in public school and do a similar lesson to this with my Kindergarten, however they make their own adventure and we title it with their own name “____ and the purple crayon”. We draw on a 9×24 piece of paper that is accordian folded for the pages. I can see the point of your lesson is more reading comprehension and retelling, which is important too. I just thought I would share another idea 🙂
That is a great idea…I think my older kids would love that! Thank you! 🙂
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