The Day the Crayons Quit was an instant favorite in our house when we got it two years ago, so, when we heard that Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers were doing a sequel, we had to get it. The Day the Crayons Came Home is one of those rare sequels that is not only as good as the original, but, quite possibly, even better.
The Day the Crayons Came Home mostly focuses on crayons we haven’t been introduced to before and their adventures outside of the crayon box, though we do get to meet up again with ever arguing Yellow and Orange, who are now forced together.
The writing in The Day the Crayons Came Home is hilarious, and I’m hard pressed to choose favorite passages because I enjoyed the entire book–from the geographically challenged Neon Red crayon to Esteban the Magnificent (formerly Pea Green) who wants to adventure, every page is full of laughs, some more subtle than others.
And that is exactly why this book, like its predecessor, is so great–I love reading them and get a lot out of them. It’s rare to find children’s books that parents actually enjoy and can read over and over without getting sick of–and that we can get some of the more subtle jokes even if our kids can’t yet. And like The Day the Crayons Quit, The Day the Crayons Came Home does have a great happy ending for everyone.
And who doesn’t still get giddy over something that’s glow-in-the-dark? There is a whole two page spread with Glow-in-the-Dark crayon who was left under the basement stairs after drawing some scary stuff, and it actually does glow-in-the-dark.
There is even a K-5 lesson plan available for download that is aligned to Common Core Standards. Whether you agree with them or not, it’s great to see books that come with lesson plans, and having one that helps teachers navigate Common Core and promote such a great book is only good for everyone.
If you’re looking for a great children’s book that your kids will enjoy and that you will enjoy reading an endless number of times, get yourself a copy of The Day the Crayons Came Home right away.
Note: I received a review copy of this book, but all thoughts and opinions above are my own.
