Reading with children can improve their language, literacy, and social-emotional skills, increasing their knowledge of the world around them.

The Crayon Box that Talked

By Shane DeRolf

We are Reading:  

Yellow hates Red, so does Green, and no one likes Orange! Can these crayons quit arguing and learn to cooperate? Shane DeRolf’s deceptively simple poem celebrates the creation of harmony through diversity. In combination with Michael Letzig’s vibrant illustrations, young readers will understand that when we all work together, the results are much more colorful and interesting.

Family Connections:

The Crayon Box That Talked is about a box of crayons who initially did not get along. However, as a little girl worked to create a picture with each of the colors the crayons begin to learn that each color has unique qualities.

Why you might want to read it:

This book is a great way to engage in conversations about diversity
and celebrating each other’s differences.

4 Questions for you to ask your children after reading it:

1. How did the little girl coloring a picture help the box of
   crayons get along?
2. If the crayons were all the same, do you think the picture
   would have been as beautiful?
3. Do you think it’s better to work together or alone? Why?
4. Have you ever not appreciated something at first but then
   when you saw it work gained a new perspective?

We are Listening to:

The Crayon Box that Talked

We are making curriculum connections:

Civics for All: Civics Ideals; Role of the Individual

DEI Focus: The power of collaboration, teamwork, and unity can help us to achieve great outcomes together.

SEL Theme: Collaboration & Celebrate Diversity

Students of the Month: In recognition of students who: listen to classmates and share ideas respectfully.

KEY WORDS:

Discuss and define these words with children prior to reading the book. Rather than focus on memorizing all the words, make sure they understand the words enough to follow the story. Remind children of the words’ meanings as they come up in the book. You can also point out when the words appear in the story.

1. unique: One of a kind; special.
2. overheard: To hear something without the person intending to say it to you.
3. drift: To float slowly on air or water.
4. laid: Set down carefully and placed flat.

One Book, One School Community…

“The idea is that… (a community) that opens the same book does it in greater harmony.” -Mary McGrory, 2002