Harold and the Purple Crayon
by Crockett Johnson · first published 1955
86% recommend14% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Wordless-style picture book where a boy draws his own world with a purple crayon; often cited as an early lesson in creative problem solving, and as a first book for young readers and kids who draw.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
"Harold loves animals so much that he decides to find out what it's like to be one. Join Harold and an elephant, a camel, a herd of cheetahs, and a slippery bunch of penguins on this wildlife adventure in his imagination."--P. [4] cover.
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- Good Night, Moon - The Runaway Bunny - Harold and the Purple Crayon - Grandfather Twilight (for slightly older children) - Sandra Boynton books - Max's Breakfast (and other books) - I Read Signs (Tana Hoban; other books by her also quite good) - Go! Go! Go! Stop!…
on “Ask HN: What are your favorite toddler books?” ↗Harold and the Purple Crayon http://www.amazon.com/Harold-Purple-Crayon-Anniversary-Editi...
on “Child Donated His Piggy Bank to NASA Got a Call From an Astronaut” ↗Harold and the purple crayon is a great book that introduces programming concepts, but it doesn't beat you over the head with any computer lingo. This book is a neat idea and the illustrations look cool, but here is one concern: Why…
on “My children’s book on technology raised 100k within 24 hours – here’s how” ↗It's a shame that few people mention the book that seemed to inspire this genre: "Harold and the Purple Crayon" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_and_the_Purple_Crayon) -- originally published in 1955. It's still a classic in my mind. Max & the Magic Marker and Crayon Physics are also excellent.
on “Bring a stick man to life.” ↗Harold and the Purple Crayon is the first book I ever read in my life. Now I draw, paint, and program - and when I do these activities, it is all literally an attempt to harness the power Harold showed me as a child.
on “My children’s book on technology raised 100k within 24 hours – here’s how” ↗…my head Rosie Revere Engineer and others from the same author The Fairy Bell Sisters Magic Treehouse Junie B Jones Princess in Black Ling and Ting series The Golly Sisters Sisters (comic book) Harold and the Purple Crayon
on “Reading Aloud to Young Children Has Benefits for Behavior and Attention” ↗I'd never thought of Harold and the Purple Crayon as related to programming. How is that? In perhaps the broadest sense the crayon gives him the power and freedom to create in the same way software might, but that's a pretty big leap.
on “My children’s book on technology raised 100k within 24 hours – here’s how” ↗