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jen_the_librarian13's review
5.0
I suppose this review has spoilers...if a picture book can have spoilers...
On the surface it's a heartwarming story about a crayon whose label says "red" but is really blue.
Dig a little deeper and it's a story about being true to yourself and learning who you are.
Let's go one more level, and I don't know if this is how it was intended by the author or not but this is how I instantly saw the book before I even opened the cover: This is a book about/for kids struggling with gender identity. As a librarian I see the subject headings that it's given and "identity (psychology)" is one, but of course it couldn't say "gender identity" because crayons don't have genders.
His whole life he was told he was red. "It says red on his label." "He came that way from the factory." AKA. He was make red, therefore he must be red. His label couldn't be a mistake and he's really a different color inside. (READ: He was born a boy. His physical appearance couldn't possibly be a mistake and he's really a girl inside) His family and friends try to fix him with tape, and scarves, and encouragement to really try at being red "draw a red strawberry" "Why don't you two go our and draw a nice, round orange?". He tries, but he just can't be red and draw red things...because he's BLUE.
I swear I could sense this crayon's depression progress each time he failed at drawing something red. I actually thought "OMG he's going to throw himself in the crayon sharpener or something! Wait that can't happen, it's a kid's book." Because no one ever said "Look! His strawberries are blue, he must be blue!" Just like so many people don't say "Look he loves dresses, and growing his hair long, and maybe he's actually a girl."
But his new friend Berry saves the day by asking him to draw an ocean and suddenly people realize he isn't red after all. I wanted to cheer for joy over this little mislabeled crayon who had found himself.
On the surface it's a heartwarming story about a crayon whose label says "red" but is really blue.
Dig a little deeper and it's a story about being true to yourself and learning who you are.
Let's go one more level, and I don't know if this is how it was intended by the author or not but this is how I instantly saw the book before I even opened the cover: This is a book about/for kids struggling with gender identity. As a librarian I see the subject headings that it's given and "identity (psychology)" is one, but of course it couldn't say "gender identity" because crayons don't have genders.
His whole life he was told he was red. "It says red on his label." "He came that way from the factory." AKA. He was make red, therefore he must be red. His label couldn't be a mistake and he's really a different color inside. (READ: He was born a boy. His physical appearance couldn't possibly be a mistake and he's really a girl inside) His family and friends try to fix him with tape, and scarves, and encouragement to really try at being red "draw a red strawberry" "Why don't you two go our and draw a nice, round orange?". He tries, but he just can't be red and draw red things...because he's BLUE.
I swear I could sense this crayon's depression progress each time he failed at drawing something red. I actually thought "OMG he's going to throw himself in the crayon sharpener or something! Wait that can't happen, it's a kid's book." Because no one ever said "Look! His strawberries are blue, he must be blue!" Just like so many people don't say "Look he loves dresses, and growing his hair long, and maybe he's actually a girl."
But his new friend Berry saves the day by asking him to draw an ocean and suddenly people realize he isn't red after all. I wanted to cheer for joy over this little mislabeled crayon who had found himself.
mehsi's review
3.0
My next banned books week book, and I enjoyed this one. It is a tale about a red crayon.. well his paper and the colour of his paper are red, but he only can draw in bright blue. We see how his teacher, the people around him are trying to "fix"/"help" him. Each one of them have ideas on how to do this. Later on even the art supplies try him.. I was quite disturbed by the pencil sharpener. That is a bit too much for me. In the mean time we see our blue crayon try his best to work out, which I just found sad. Poor thing. Nothing is wrong with you!
I did like that the younger crayons were all new, and the older the crayon was the less there was left over it. However, on the flipside, I also thought it quite sombre.
I am glad the kid finally accepted his blueness and that others seemingly were accepting as well. Just a shame it took them so long.
The art was OK.
I did like that the younger crayons were all new, and the older the crayon was the less there was left over it. However, on the flipside, I also thought it quite sombre.
I am glad the kid finally accepted his blueness and that others seemingly were accepting as well. Just a shame it took them so long.
The art was OK.
lilpoul's review
5.0
Excellent story with trans representation. These stories are so important for kids to hear and learn about! It’s wonderfully written, and made me tear up at the end.
lanica's review
2.0
This is one of the Star of the North nominees I will be buying and reading to all of my Pre-K through 2nd graders next year.
I was okay with the idea behind this book - it's a solid message that everyone doesn't have to be the same; however, the execution seemed heavy-handed and politically charged to me. I'm not sure how I feel about it being a 'mandatory' read-aloud.
I was okay with the idea behind this book - it's a solid message that everyone doesn't have to be the same; however, the execution seemed heavy-handed and politically charged to me. I'm not sure how I feel about it being a 'mandatory' read-aloud.
notblue's review
4.0
I Just wish he got a new label at the end! I love the story regardless though.
4/5
4/5