One of the things I enjoy about having ARED 371 class with Dr. Martens is that we get to read exciting children’s books that showcase different forms of art! This past week, we each chose a book to read aloud and present to the class. I chose, A Day with No Crayons by Eliza Rusch, which follows a young girl named, Liza, who is in love with drawing and coloring. After drawing on the walls, her mom takes away her crayons for the day and Liza’s world becomes colorless. Immediately after getting her crayons taken away, Liza says that she is “feeling blue ---midnight blue.” I loved how Rusch incorporated the variety of colors found in and outside of a crayon box in not only the artwork, but also throughout the text. It is a subtle, but also extremely clever way of showcasing how much Liza loves her crayons and coloring and how meaningful it is to her. In addition, towards the end of the story, Liza soon finds that there are hues of every color that can be found in nature! This is a message that I really liked because it is important that students get out and explore nature and what it has to offer! Art is not just about drawing and painting, but about experiencing those colors and sites for themselves! ( )

I really enjoyed the message in A Day With No Crayons because it shows the reader that art is everywhere and it up to the artist to see it. In the book Liza gets her crayons taken away by her mother. One element of the book I like a lot Is how after she gets her crayons taken away, the whole book turns to black and white, to further emphasize her sadness. As she wonders around outside she starts to realize that there is color and art all around her. As she realizes this, the book gradually starts its regain its color page by page until is full color, and Liza is happy with the art she was able to make without her crayons. ( )

A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch, illustrated by Chad Cameron is a sweet read for readers of all ages. Liza is a young girl who loves to make beautiful creations with her crayons. She delights in all the beautiful colors in her crayon box and becomes distressed when she realizes she only has one piece of paper left. Looking for a new space to create, she finds a crisp clean wall in her room that she believes is the perfect canvas for her creations, however her mom does not think so, and takes away her crayons. Liza then is able to discover the beauty and creation in the world around her, allowing her to think outside the box of her crayons and paper to find inspiration. I think this is a great story for all readers to change their perspective and help them see the beauty around them. ( )

Yes the basic theme has been done, but this is the best take I've seen on it. I love how the design fills the pages with vignettes - making the text almost unnecessary. But don't skip the text! I love that the book teaches a good lesson about finding inspiration for art all around us, and is also funny and sweet.

There are two references to famous works (Van Gogh and Pollack) but I would have liked more. In fact, I would have liked more examples of Liza's creations, too - and since these lacks made the book feel a little truncated, I'm giving the book 4.5 stars, not 5.


Oh, and yes, the bios, esp. Cameron's, are great fun. ( )

42 months - I always love a good book about creativity. Who needs crayons anyway! ( )