G- "Harold and the Purple Crayon" series

Crockett Johnson, well known author of the Harold and the Purple Crayon series, writes and draws in a simplistic and touching style that will entertain your child from ages 2-8 without boring you to tears. He generally uses 2 or 4 colors to create imaginitive adventures for his young heroes. His work is to children's books as legos are to their toys- simple on the surface, but containing the building blocks for anything your child can imagine. Johnson has also illustrated other books, such as The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss.

Harold and the Purple Crayon are companions on an imaginitive adventure as Harold takes a walk by moonlight. Though he's still young enough to wear pajamas with feet, Harold uses his crayon to draw a night full of adventures with innocent reminders of the best parts of human nature. Eventually, this little boy sets out to find his own window, ending in a good night for everyone.

Harold's Fairy Tale begins in an enchanted garden where nothing is growing. Harold must find the King and solve the mystery of the garden so that the flowers can grow. A fantasy adventure for the early ages 2-6, especially appropriate for little daydreamers.

Like all kids, Harold has a few fears, especially of things in the dark (like flying saucers). In Harold's Trip to the Sky, he takes a rocket to the moon, but misses and lands on Mars instead. Mars is dark, and it has scary people. Can Harold overcome his fears? And how will he get back home? An introduction to science fiction for those 4-year-olds who are scared of everything.

After trying to walk the tightrope (just to see if he could do it), the little boy with the big purple crayon falls into Harold's Circus. In three rings of fun, he rides a horse, plays the clown, puts his head in a lion's mouth, and becomes a human cannonball. What will Harold do next? You never know.

Finally, an ABC book that does not use the words "xylophone" or "zebra". Harold's ABC is a story in pictures and words about the night Harold discovered the alphabet. Most of the words are ones your child already knows, so the two of you can concentrate on the funny ways Harold gets into trouble (and back out) using his imagination. Another great bedtime book that winds down even roudy children.

Harold's Purple Crayon Treasury is a compilation of these five stories into one delightful book that you will actually look forward to reading to the child in your life.

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Last Updated: December 6, 1999

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