Melki's Reviews > The Day the Crayons Quit

Yeah, I'm late to this coloring party, but the children's section of our local library doesn't have a copy of this book. I had to creep deep down to the bowels of the building to visit our county librarian Joe in his dungeon to find this title. Poor Joe is nearly colorless from lack of sunshine, and deeply opinionated with a skewed sense of humor. (Hell, I guess most of us who toil at the library are like that.) After he played me his song of the day - All in a Family by Loudon Wainwright - he cheerfully located the book for me. (Seriously? Joe has enough free time to learn a new song on his guitar each day? When he retires, I'm applying for his job. Even though it means working out of a dungeon.)

This is all apropos of nothing, except to say that the book was worth the trip . . . and putting up with Joe. In it we learn that Duncan's crayons are not happy. And what better way for crayons to express their disapproval than by leaving handwritten notes for their owner to find.



I guess some reviewers find the crayons too "whiny," but I see nothing wrong with an inanimate object objecting to being used improperly. And, Duncan's crayons have a litany of complaints from overuse to who makes a better sun - yellow or orange. And the poor peach crayon - it's all naked 'cos Duncan peeled off its paper!



Luckily for colored wax everywhere, Duncan proves to be an excellent mediator, and an acceptable (not to mention colorful) solution is found. He brought color to this librarian's drab day. Maybe he can bring peace to the Middle East. (He can't do any worse than Jared.)

Wonder what song I'll hear when I return the book on Monday . . .