Book Description
With his magic purple crayon, Harold draws himself into a rocket voyage to Mars, then safely back to earth just in time for breakfast. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Our favorite Harold Book
This is our favorite Harold book.When my son asks for Harold, this story is usually the one he's thinking of.And there's some humor for the parent as well, which I appreciate.

Another favorite from Crockett Johnson
Our son loves Harold and the Purple Crayon, so we ordered this Trip to the Sky story. At first I didn't find it as clever, but the more we read it, the more our son enjoys it. We love the imaginative exploration, Harold's ingenuity, and the simple yet unique drawings. The move from night to day is wonderfully sudden, and the play with words once again delightful. The dated paranoia about u.f.o.s is amusing to us, and it's the perfect kind of "scary" for a not-quite three-year-old.

One of the best children's books for the imagination.
As a child between the age of 6 and 8, I remember going to the library with my mother and checking out each of the adventure's that Harold had.I must have checked them all out more than ten times each.The concept of asmall boy using his purple crayon to imagine many things was so fun.Thevocabulary is suitable for the reccommended age group. The pictures aregreat.The spectacular thing and most valuable lesson is that it not onlyteaches one how to read, but it also says it's o.k. to have an imagination.Today I still remember how much I loved Haroldand his purple crayon. I plan to buy all of the Harold books not onlybecause of my love for them, but to one day share them with my children. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Crockett Johnson, creator of the 1955 classic Harold and the Purple Crayon, also wrote a lovely, nonsensically philosophical collection of 12 stories about a little girl named Ellen and her conversations with her stuffed lion. Originally published in 1959, Ellen's Lion has an old-fashioned feel, but its explorations of child logic and imagination are universal and fresh, the perspective authentically childlike. In one story, Ellen pretends she is terrified of her pet lion and calls the police. The lion becomes impatient and annoyed. Ellen feels guilty: "I should have asked you if you ate people before I called a policeman," she says. The lion tells her she didn't use a real telephone. "'But I called a real policeman,' said Ellen." In another story, "Sad Interlude," Ellen displays sympathy for her "poor sad old lion." The lion is indignant:

"I'm never sad and never happy, never hungry or never full, never foolish or clever, or good or bad, or this or that, or anything else you imagine me to be—-"
"You poor thing," Ellen said, slowly, shaking her head. "You haven't any mother, either, have you?"
"Now you are being ridiculous," the lion said.

Customer Reviews (1)

Family Favorite
This book has been a favorite of our family's since we discovered it after our first child was born in 1986.Eighteen years later, we still read and quote from this book.Every child should have a lion like Ellen's.We are so glad it is out in a new edition.Our copy is getting a little ragged. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Fantasic Alphabet Book for Children
This book quite cleverly introduces the alphabet A to Z.Each letter isintroduced in order and appears as part of the picture associated with it.Descriptive words use the letter, usually starting with it.Text leadingto the next page (and next letter) suggests the next letter by using it atthe beginning of some words, too.Very cleverly written.I grew up with"Harold and the Purple Crayon", which I like very much.I'veenjoyed, as an adult other Harold books by Crockett Johnson. "Harold'sABCs" is an equal with the original. ... Read more

Amazon.com
There's nothing Harold can't create with his purple crayon--and that's just why children have loved his magical world for decades. Crockett Johnson wrote several other books about Harold after the original Harold and the Purple Crayon in 1955, each one tracing different themes--from Harold at the circus to Harold on Mars. This time the imaginative young artist takes his purple crayon on a search for a Christmas tree. He finds himself at the North Pole just in time to help Santa who is snowed in with his reindeer, his sleigh, and all the toys.Harold's purple crayon to the rescue! He draws his own solutions, solving both Santa's problem and his own. This would be a dandy Christmas gift wrapped up with a big pad of paper... and a purple crayon, of course. (Ages 3 to 6) --Marcie Bovetz Book Description
A Christmas Journey with the Purple Crayon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

My son loves it!
My three year old loves this book.He brings it to storytime everyday!My five year old will even sit through this one.

Harold Saves Christmas
It's Christmas Eve, Harold doesn't have his tree yet and he decides he needs one before Santa arrives.So armed with his imagination and his purple crayon, Harold sets off for the north woods to find the perfect tree.He follows the north star, encounters a blizzard, meets a snowman and continues to "draw" his way to the North Pole.There he finds Santa in trouble.He's snowed in and can't get his sleigh, reindeer and sack of toys out of his workshop, which is covered by drifts.Lucky for us, Harold comes to the rescue and lends Santa a hand, sending him on his way to deliver presents to boys and girls all over the world.....Crockett Johnson has created a simple, gentle and really ingenious story, showing the very clever Harold at his best.Those who love Harold and the Purple Crayon, will find this holiday adventure just as wonderful and inventive.Harold at the North Pole will delight and amuse all pre-schoolers, as he helps your youngster welcome in the holiday season.

Harold, now and forever
The Harold and the Purple Crayon Series are wonderful.Harold is a little boy with a round head (around long before Charlie Brown) with a little purple crayon and a big imagination.In the North Pole book, Harold has set out on Christmas Eve to find a Christmas tree.Along the way, Harold ends up helping Santa but needs to hurry to find a tree to have it ready for Santa's visit.The simple line drawings are wonderful for younger readers yet there is always a charm to them.Harold inspires kids on so many levels; he's great for children who are timid, he's great for the mighty little explorers and he's great for kids who like to draw but feel intimidated by other artists. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A delightful, imaginative tale
When I encountered this book for the first time, I lamented the fact that I was unaware of it when my daughter was young. She would have loved it. Harold is a toddler with a magic purple crayon. With it, he can make anything he wants and engage in the most imaginative and creative adventures. When Harold needs something, he simply draws it.
Some of Harold's adventures are flying in a rocket, landing on another planet, meeting an alien, riding a shooting star back home and eating a bowl of hot oatmeal. The adventures are not structured in the sense that the next event is largely unpredictable, which is consistent with the wandering that a child's mind will do.
... Read more

Book Description
Purple crayon in hand, Harold draws a tightrope and falls into a circus [where he has many adventures]. As in the previous books, the dauntless Harold is resourceful and loveable." SLJ.

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Customer Reviews (4)

not my favorite
I am a big fan of Harold and The Purple Crayon books.They really spark my 4 year old's imagination.But if your child tends to be easily frightened this will not be your favorite.Harold runs into a large lion with very big teeth, and falls thinking he will be caught by the elephant but gets caught by the lion instead.

Harold's Circus is for All Ages
Harold's Circus is a great book for everyone. The story is very imaginative. The story flows just like Harold's drawings. This book has lots of great yet simple pictures. The vocabulary can be a bit more complicated than the simple layout and drawings might suggest.

dated but comforting
First published in 1959, this Harold book describes Harold's adventures as he draws his way through a circus.The style is minimalist and the activities are dated, but the story is also simple and active -- and very interesting to toddlers and young children.In this very fast world, this book helps kids (and parents) slow down a bit.

No batteries required.

Best Childrens Book
This is a great book easy for children to read and know what they are reading. i sujest you get all of the harolds books starting with this one and the going to harold and the pruple crayon.. these books take a kids imagination and make them become life like... the author of these books knows how to hold a childs mind to keep them to want to keep reading til they get to the end.. ... Read more

Amazon.com
"One night, after thinking it over for some time, Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight." So begins this gentle story that shows just how far your imagination can take you.Armed only with an oversized purple crayon, young Harold draws himself a landscape full of beauty and excitement. But this is no hare-brained, impulsive flight of fantasy. Cherubic, round-headed Harold conducts his adventure with the utmost prudence, letting his imagination run free, but keeping his wits about him all the while. He takes the necessary purple-crayon precautions: drawing landmarks to ensure he won't get lost; sketching a boat when he finds himself in deep water; and creating a purple pie picnic when he feels the first pangs of hunger.

Crockett Johnson's understated tribute to the imagination was first published in 1955, and has been inspiring readers of all ages ever since. Harold's quiet but magical journey reminds us of the marvels the mind can create, and also gives us the wondrous sense that anything is possible. (Ages 4 to 8)Book Description

One evening Harold decided to go for a walk in the moonlight. But there wasn't any moon, and Harold needed a moon for a walk in the moonlight. Fortunately, he had brought his purple crayon. So he drew a moon. He also needed something to walk on. So he drew a path...

And thus begins one of the most imaginative and enchanting adventures in all of children's books. The creative concept behind this beloved story has intrigued children and kept them absorbed for generations, as page by page unfolds the dramatic and clever adventures of Harold and his purple crayon.

Customer Reviews (140)

Create Your Own Life
This book can be a favorite for Pre-K children on up!Harold goes on an adventure, creating each scene of the adventure with just one purple crayon. The single color and simple illustrations are similar to those of a young child at that age so it is easy for a child to relate to them.Pre-K children who have this book read to them can't wait to see what "trouble" Harold will get into next or how he will get out of a predicament he has unwittingly created with his purple crayon.For a young child the adventure of Harold is enough of a story.

This book, in my opinion, provides a timeless message for all.It reminds us that our imagination can work in strange ways.We can create problems and also solve seemingly insurmountable problems with our imagination.

Just like Harold we can create our lives.

Love it!
My daughter (2) received this book as a gift for Christmas. At first she wasn't very interested in it because it didn't have many colors in the pages, but when we sat down to read it, she didn't want me to stop. She loved it and I enjoyed it too. It was the first time both of us read this book.Now she likes to watch the cartoon version on the weekends. It's really a great story. Sparks the imagination!

It's a classic for a reason
My daughter's an only child, so I encourage her imagination as much as possible, so she doesn't notice there are no siblings to play with.I remember this book fondly as a child (inspired me to draw and I ended up becoming an art student).I love watching her face as she's looking at each new picture and seeing how the simple lines make a picture with "depth".She loves the steady paced adventure as a bedtime story.

Travel in time
My cousin is having her first child and as I am much older and my children are grown I thought it would be a neat gift for each one of them to choose a few of their favorite childhood books to buy and send in a package to her for the new arrival. As a teacher I could have picked many, but I wanted to choose one that still inspires my little ones now. Every year my new students love to hear about Harold's adventures and make purple journals of their own and draw where they would like to visit themselves with purple crayons. This simple but timeless story always has been dear to me and continues to fascinate my students year after year.

Reading specialist's point of view
This book presents an excellent opportunity to use during guided reading for grades 1st-3rd.Students are able to relate to the character and understanding that by using our creativity and strategic plans we can have fun and accomplish many things. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Magic by the beach
I've made a terrible mistake.Can there be such a thing as doing too much research on a children's book?It seems ridiculous, really.Especially since I write reviews for Amazon.com and not some high-falutin' literary journal like "Children's Literature In Education" or "The Lion and the Unicorn".When it came to the recent publication of Crockett Johnson's ridiculous and fascinating, "Magic Beach", however, I felt ill-prepared to review the puppy without a little background information on my side.Fortunately, this is one book with a pedigree that is easy to follow.From its famous (and long-dead) author to its Forward by Maurice Sendak to finally an Afterword by Crockett scholar Philip Nel, the story of how the book came to its present form is just as interesting as the tale it tells.The only problem now is that I almost feel I know too much about the title.With some difficulty I will try to parse what I know from what I think and hope it all comes out relatively coherant.This is by no means a book meant for children and one might wonder whether its existence as a purely historical document justifies such vast publication at all, but it certainly is an interesting little thing and a fairly nice read to boot.

Ann and Ben, two children, walk along a seashore from their cottage.Ann complains of boredom but Ben points out that stories are far more interesting when you go out and make them rather than stay inside and read them.In the course of their somewhat philosophical squabbling Ben happens to write the word "JAM" in the sand.A breaking wave floods the word and suddenly a silver dish full of jam appears by magic.Further experiments with "BREAD", "MILK", and "TREE" yield similar results.The children are now interested in the turn their day has taken and Ben reasons that if there is magic then this must be a magic kingdom.Ipso facto, a magic kingdom must be ruled by a king.Once Ben has written the word "KING" in the sand, however, the tale takes a turn towards the peculiar.The king, morose and unhelpful, speculates that the spell cast comes from the children themselves.Once they've created a kingdom in full and a horse with which to ride to his castle, the king insists that the children leave the kingdom proper.All too soon, however, the sea comes and swallows up the world the children created with just words in the sand.At the end, they stand on a sandbank and view the calm clear sea.Ann suggests that the story may be continuing sight unseen, "But Ben had his ear to the shell, and he was listening to the sea".

You know you're in trouble when you've read a book of 53 pages, pictures included, and you suddenly decide that you need to polish up on your Arthurian legends ("Fisher King" anyone?) as well as your T.S. Eliot.I'm a rather big fan of Ursula Nordstrom (original editor of Crockett Johnson) so I scanned the book, "Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom" for any reference to "Magic Beach" available.Unfortunately, such letters were not deemed particularly interesting by Leonard S. Marcus and I had to be content to rely on scholar Philip Nel for information regarding this book's history.According to his Afterword, Nordstrom did not feel that the book was written with children as its intended audience.As the Kirkus review of "Magic Beach" puts it so succinctly, "Johnson's editor Ursula Nordstrom didn't think this was a story for children. As in so much else, she was right -- but it does make a handsomely packaged artifact for adult readers of children's literature".This is why I hate to read professional reviews before writing my own on Amazon.Too often they say exactly what I would like to, only far far better.

Published by the truly eclectic publisher Front Street the book has been reproduced with Johnson's original illustrations.Of course, they weren't exactly polished when he set them down in the first place, never to return to them again.They're just the faintest of outlines on a brown paper background.Maurice Sendak prefers them in their "diamond-in-the-rough" form, though."The sketches were intended only to show his editor the direction he meant to go in, but, for me, they are as finished as any illustrations he ever did.Only better".Which is why, ladies and gentlemen, we do not allow artists full license over the works of their contemporaries.The pictures are certainly nice in a this-is-how-an-artist-works process.Just don't go thinking that had Johnson included (oh, I dunno) color they wouldn't have been preferable.And to present them in this original outline is to basically tell your readers: For adults only.Children were not the focus of the original tale and they are certainly not the focus of it now.Still, in the Oct. 13, 2005 edition of Publisher's Weekly, editor Stephen Roxburgh had this to say of the galleys: "It was not broken, so we did not fix it".All well and good though I didn't know if I could completely agree with his statement that, "children even more than adults appreciate 'the richness, fullness, gradations and subtleties' of book illustration".Hence doing away with that richness altogether?Confoosing to say the least.

Perhaps the most telling piece of evidence in the midst of all this information is the fact that "Magic Beach" WAS published in 1965 as "Castles In the Sand".The illustrations were drawn not by the great man himself but rather by one Ms. Betty Fraser.I have not seen "Castles In the Sand" myself (though I was sorely tempted to buy a copy from EBay for the sole purpose of this particular review) but if Fraser's work in other areas is any indication, the book must've been a violent departure from Crockett's original vision.The fact that tracking down a copy of "Castles In the Sand" is as difficult as it is speaks volumes about how unremarkable it was.And call "Magic Beach" what you will, it is not unremarkable.I know that I've complained and caterwauled over authorial/editorial/Sendakian intent till I was blue in the face but when it comes down to it, I liked this book.I liked the story.I liked Johnson's method and what he was saying with a title that, in many ways, was a kind of anti-"Harold and the Purple Crayon".Instead of creating a world (which they do initially) our boy and girl heroes create AND destroy it in one fell swoop.And who is to say that any of it was real after all?Harold has the comfort of crawling into a bed he has drawn himself.Ann and Ben are left only with seashell and a potentially drowned monarch.

I would not hand "Magic Beach" to the child that is far more attuned to the equally misleadingly simple, "Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus", but there is no denying that some kids would get a lot out of this tale.In any case, it's certainly a picture book for grown-ups, and I recommend it to them without hesitation.Lovely, curious, and cruel.A wonderful experience for those who chance upon it.

a diamond in the rough
i stumbled upon this book in the bookstore as i was shopping for a present and fell in love with it.it is a simple story aboutbeing a part of a story versus just reading a story, and can reach a large spectrum of readers.i would recommend this book for children above first grade though, the illustrations are beautiful but may not catch the attention of the younger readers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Delightful story for Groundhog Day
This is another of Crockett Johnson's wonderful gems for younger readers.Groundhog appears from his burrow in the snowy meadow to look for his shadow and to make his annual prediction.All of the animals, except grouchy Pig, are thrilled with Groundhog's prediction, especially when Groundhog produces tangible evidence that spring has already arrived.When Pig attempts to eat the evidence and makes a prediction of his own, the results are hilarious.This book is out-of-print, but perhaps you'll be as lucky as we were to find a copy tucked away in our school library! ... Read more