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Harold and the Purple Crayon

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Harold and the Purple Crayon
First edition, designed by Crockett Johnson
AuthorCrockett Johnson
GenreChildren's novel
PublisherHarper & Brothers
Publication date1955
Publication placeUnited States
Pages64
OCLC22963112
Dewey Decimal[E] 22
LC ClassMLCS 2006/43120 (P)

Harold and the Purple Crayon is a 1955 children's picture book written and illustrated by Crockett Johnson. Published by HarperCollins Publishers, it is Johnson's most popular book, with more than 5 and a half million copies sold and being translated into more than 14 languages, it has led to a series of other related books, as well as many adaptations. The story is written in third-person point-of-view, and follows a toddler boy on an imaginative adventure through the night.[1]

The book was an immediate success, and has remained a staple of children's literature, earning recognition on major lists. It is frequently used in education of young children. Furthermore, scholars have examined and analyzed the book's content and underlying themes. Numerous adaptations have been created, including animated short films, a television series, a live-action film, and a planned Broadway musical.

Background

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Crockett Johnson or originally known as David Johnson Leisk was born in New York City in 1906. From an early age Johnson was relentlessly creative. Johnson was known for his first comic strip Barnaby in 1942 which showed his knack for simplistic art and later defined his work.[2] He continued to practice cartooning children's books, while collaborating with his wife Ruth Krauss.[2] Together the two produced their next book The Carrot Seed.[2] Later, Johnson created Harold and the Purple Crayon. According to Nel, Johnson designed the book to be around six inches tall and five inches wide, made to be fit for a young child's hand.[3] The name Harold is thought to be in honor of his nephew.[2] 10,000 copies were sold in the first printing.[2] This later pushed Johnson to continue the series to write Harold's Fairytale.[2]

Plot

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The protagonist, Harold, is a curious four-year-old[4] boy who, with his magic purple crayon, has the power to create a world of his own simply by drawing it.

Harold wants to go for a walk in the moonlight, but there is no moon, so he draws one. He has nowhere to walk, so he draws a path. Using his purple crayon, he goes on many adventures including encountering a dragon guarding an apple tree, boating through deep waters, eating a picnic consisting only of nine flavors of pies, and flying in a hot-air balloon that saves him from a fall. Eventually Harold grows tired, and searches for his bedroom window in order to go to bed. He draws many windows, drawing an entire city, yet none are his. Finally, Harold remembers where his window is situated and constructs his own room and bed, and nods off to sleep.[1]

Book series

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  • Harold and the Purple Crayon (1955)
  • Harold's Fairy Tale (1956)
  • Harold's Trip to the Sky (1957)
  • Harold at the North Pole (1958)
  • Harold's Circus (1959)
  • A Picture for Harold's Room (easy reader, 1960)
  • Harold's ABC (1963)
  • Harold and His Friends: A Harold and the Purple Crayon Treasury (2003)
  • Adventures of Harold and His Friends (2005)
  • Harold's Treasure Hunt (posthumous, 2020)

Reception

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Harold and the Purple Crayon has consistently been well regarded as a children's literature favorite and has been praised for its combination of themes of childhood imagination and reality. There have been nine sequels. Remaining popular amongst children's teachers, it ranked in the National Education Association's "Teachers' Top 100 Books for Children," and ranked 16th among School Library Journal's "Top 100 Picture Books" in its 2012 survey.[5]

In 2010, feminist scholar Louise Collins offered a critique of the book, arguing that its depiction of childhood creativity relies on masculinist ideals.[6] She pointed out that Harold is shown drawing, but never speaking for himself, and that an adult narrator stays in control of the story the entire time.[6] In contrast, Philip Nel argues that Harold and the Purple Crayon carries political meaning, suggesting that Harold's ability to adapt and use his imagination shows younger children that they can push back against a world they don't have full control over.[7]

Uses in education

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Harold and the Purple Crayon has been credied with shaping a whole genre of picture books about young artists who "sometimes struggle with but ultimately take delight in the artistic process like Harold."[8]Book Links celebrated the book's 60th anniversary with a dedicated feature that shows how central Harold has become to children's literature about creativity.[8] Scholar of early childhood education Burhanettin Keskin has emphasized that the book has real value in the classroom, in that it provides a path through difficult topics like feeling lost and separated from home, and teaches young children to be brave and curious.[9]

The book has been used frequently in children's and art education lesson plans, as well as referenced in other children's literature.[10]

Analysis

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Harold as depicted on the original 1955 cover, with "tan" skin, and on the 1998 reprint, with "light peach" skin.

In 2024, scholar of children's literature and Johnson biographer Philip Nel wrote that Johnson may have originally intended Harold to be a Black child. He based this on an analysis of the original art with Johnson's notes to the printer as to what percentage of what color inks should be used to represent Harold's skin, and compared this to how Caucasian skin tone was typically represented by the printing technology of that era, concluding that Harold was deliberately portrayed as brown. Nel placed this in the context of Johnson's history of anti-racism, noting that this had brought him to the attention of the FBI, which perceived advocacy for racial equality as communist; he further observed that Johnson's wife Ruth Krauss had written an explicitly anti-racist children's book some years earlier which had been rejected by publishers. As such, Nel posited that Harold's skin tone may have been a "subtle political statement" intended to provide "cover" to Johnson and his publisher. Ultimately, Nel concluded that — prior to the 1998 reprint, where the publishers modified the cover art, changing Harold's skin tone from "original tan to light peach" — Harold was "racially ambiguous", and emphasized that although he himself had (as a child) perceived Harold as white, others (including Chris Ware and Bryan Collier) had not.[11]

Literary analysis

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In Burhanettin's interpretation he highlights that Crockett introduces ideas such that imagination and reality overlap and in his words this is called "translucent reality.”[9]Harold creates images or creatures that produce consequences for him, which force him to respond like they are real.[9] Imagined results can influence outcomes in real ways, this is how Harold showed that imagination and reality overlap.[9]

The book has 3 main recurring visual symbols which are Harold, the purple Crayon and the moon.[3] In a study of the book, Philip Nel describes that Harold is interpreted to be the artist, the crayon is the artistic middle ground and the moon is a presence and guides him throughout his adventures.[3] According to How to Draw the World: Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Making of  Children's Classic, Nel delves into how the color purple is historically known to be one of the first colors ever available to American schoolchildren.[12] That is what makes the book so special to children's literature as a common theme is using an object to empower young children.[12]

An interesting point to note about Harold and the Purple Crayon is the ambiguous endings.[12] Unlike most other children's literature novels that end in happily ever afters, Harold never ends up in a fantastical world.[12] The only world he ends up in, is the one he draws. According to Nel, some readers have found this particular ending unsettling, while others view this in a positive light.[12] Harold can create a sense of home and safety anywhere through using his imagination.[12] This unclear ending has been one of the main reasons the book has resonated with readers of all different ages.[12]

Legacy

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One of the protagonists in Captain Underpants, Harold Hutchins, is named after the protagonist in the book, with its author, Dav Pilkey, insisting on naming his main characters after his "childhood literary loves."[13] In the book This Thing Called Life: Prince's Odyssey, On and Off the Record by the author Neal Karlen, Prince's mother, Mattie Shaw, confirmed that his favorite book as a child was Harold and the Purple Crayon and was the reason for Prince's love of the color purple.[14]

The book inspired programmer Petri Purho to create the computer game Crayon Physics Deluxe.[15][16]

Adaptations

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Educational shorts

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The original story was adapted by Weston Woods Studios and Brandon Films[17] into a seven-minute Animation short film in 1959, directed by David Piel and narrated by Norman Rose.,[18][19] Gene Deitch directed additional two shorts A Picture for Harold's Room in 1971, and Harold's Fairy Tale in 1974. These shorts were also featured on the popular CBS children's television show Captain Kangaroo, which ran for 29 years on the network. In 1993, these three educational shorts were packaged with a documentary, and sold as the Harold and the Purple Crayon and Other Harold Stories VHS set.[20]

Television series

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Harold and the Purple Crayon
GenreFantasy
Developed byCarin Greenberg Baker
Jeff Kline
Voices ofConnor Matheus
Narrated bySharon Stone
ComposersVan Dyke Parks
Kevin Kiner
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13
Production
Executive producersJeff Kline
Dolores Morris
ProducerBob Hathcock
EditorCK Horness
Running time23 minutes
Production companiesAdelaide Productions
Columbia TriStar Television
Original release
NetworkHBO Family
ReleaseDecember 1, 2001 (2001-12-01) –
March 23, 2002 (2002-03-23)

In 2001, the stories were adapted by Adelaide Productions into a 13-episode animated television series for HBO narrated by Sharon Stone and featuring Connor Matheus as the voice of Harold.[21] The series won a Daytime Emmy Award for "Main Title Design", and was nominated for an Annie Award and Humanitas Prize.[22][23] The series aired on HBO Family from December 1, 2001, to March 23, 2002. The show was also released on VHS and DVD.

The series focuses on Harold using his purple crayon to explore a new world. Each episode has Harold focusing on life lessons throughout his journeys.[citation needed]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Harold and the Purple Crayon"Tom ElleryCarin Greenberg BakerDecember 1, 2001 (2001-12-01)
Harold can't sleep and uses his purple crayon to create a fantastic world.
2"Blame It on the Rain"Tom ElleryEric WeinerJanuary 5, 2002 (2002-01-05)
Harold wants to know where rain comes from.
3"Fly Away Home"Sean SongDon GilliesJanuary 12, 2002 (2002-01-12)
Harold learns that no matter how small he is, he can accomplish big things.
4"A Dog's Tale"Andy ThomCarin Greenberg BakerJanuary 19, 2002 (2002-01-19)
Harold's stuffed toy comes to life.
5"One Crayon Band"Sean SongJan StrnadJanuary 26, 2002 (2002-01-26)
Harold learns about music.
6"I Remember Goldie"Tom ElleryCarin Greenberg BakerFebruary 2, 2002 (2002-02-02)
Harold's goldfish dies, so a mermaid helps him understand the meaning of death.
7"Harold's Birthday Gift"Andy ThomMelody FoxFebruary 9, 2002 (2002-02-09)
Harold celebrates his birthday and learns that the true birthday gift is friendship.
8"A Blast from the Past"Tom ElleryDon GilliesFebruary 16, 2002 (2002-02-16)
Harold uses his imagination to travel back to prehistoric times.
9"Harold the Artiste"Chuck DrostStu KriegerFebruary 23, 2002 (2002-02-23)
Harold can't draw a perfect circle, so he uses his purple crayon to visit a museum and later learns to appreciate his drawings, no matter the perfection.
10"Harold's Walk on the Wild Side"Tom ElleryDon GilliesMarch 2, 2002 (2002-03-02)
Harold imagines what would it be like to be an animal.
11"Harold in the Dark"Andy ThomStu KriegerMarch 9, 2002 (2002-03-09)
Harold wonders where the moon has gone.
12"Future Clock"Sean SongThomas HartMarch 16, 2002 (2002-03-16)
Harold wonders what would it be like to be grown up.
13"Cowboy Harold"Chap YaepStu KriegerMarch 23, 2002 (2002-03-23)
Harold refuses to eat squash and imagines being a cowboy.

Feature film

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In February 2010, it was reported that Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation was developing an animated film adaptation of Harold and the Purple Crayon, to be produced by Will Smith and James Lassiter through their production company Overbrook Entertainment, and written by Josh Klausner, but it never came to fruition.[24] In December 2016, it was reported that the film would also be written by Dallas Clayton.[25]

On February 1, 2021, it was reported that Zachary Levi would star in the film, later revealed to be portraying Harold as a grown man and film will be a Live Action Animated film.[26] It was also announced that David Guion and Michael Handelman replaced Klausner and Clayton as screenwriters, with John Davis producing.[27] While Zooey Deschanel was added in the cast, it was announced that Carlos Saldanha was attached to direct the film.[28] The film was originally scheduled to be released on January 27, 2023,[29] but was pushed back to June 30, 2023,[30] and later August 2, 2024.[31]

Stage

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There have also been two theater adaptations; one in 2008, another from 2009-2011.[32][33]

Broadway musical

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On March 11, 2022, a Broadway musical adaptation was announced. It will feature an original score by Jack and Ryan Met from the band AJR and will focus on an adult version of Harold facing challenges in everyday life without his magical purple crayon.[34] As of 2024, there have been no updates on the musical.

References

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  1. 1 2 Harold and the Purple Crayon (1959)[dead link] at The Big Cartoon DataBase
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nel, P. (2004). Crockett Johnson and the Purple Crayon: A Life in Art. Comic Art, , 2.
  3. 1 2 3 Nel, P. (2024). How to Draw the World: Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Making of a Children's Classic. Oxford University Press.
  4. ↑ Trilogy Studios (August 8, 2011). "Harold and The Purple Crayon Climbs to #1 in iPad Book App Chart in First Week of Release" (Press release). PR Newswire. Retrieved April 24, 2014. This timeless classic by Crockett Johnson is about the world a curious four-year-old boy creates by simply drawing it with a purple crayon.
  5. ↑ comments, Betsy Bird 4 (2012-06-14). "Top 100 Children's Novels #16: Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson". A Fuse #8 Production. Retrieved 2023-12-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 Collins, Louise (2010). "Autonomy and Authorship: Storytelling in Children's Picture Books". Hypatia. 25 (1): 174–195. doi:10.1111/j.1527-2001.2010.01090.x. ISSN 0887-5367.
  7. ↑ "‘Never Overlook the Art of the Seemingly Simple’: Crockett Johnson and the Politics of the Purple Crayon.", by Philip Nel; Children's Literature (Storrs, Conn.) [Baltimore], vol. 29, no. 1, 2001, pp. 142–74
  8. 1 2 Leeper, A. (2016).Beyond Harold and the Purple Crayon: books about Young Artists. vol. 112; issue 15
  9. 1 2 3 4 Keskin, Burhanettin (2017-08-03). "On Harold's 'translucent reality': a philosophical and religious interpretation of Harold and the Purple Crayon". Early Child Development and Care. 187 (8): 1349–1358. doi:10.1080/03004430.2016.1169179. ISSN 0300-4430.
  10. ↑ Archived February 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  11. ↑ His crayon is purple – but is Harold a Black boy?, by Philip Nel, at The Conversation; published August 16, 2024; retrieved October 13, 2024
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Nel, P. (2024). How to Draw the World: Harold and the Purple Crayon and the Making of a Children's Classic. Oxford University Press.
  13. ↑ "'Captain Underpants' author Dav Pilkey finds bottomless humor in underwear". The Seattle Times. 2015-09-10. Retrieved 2023-12-04.
  14. ↑ Karlen, Neal (2020). This thing called life: Prince's odyssey, on and off the record (First ed.). New York: St. Martin's Press. ISBN 978-1-250-13524-7.
  15. ↑ "Computer Game A Mash-Up Of Crayons, Physics". NPR. 2009-01-07. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  16. ↑ "Crayon Physics Deluxe Interview". Binary Joy. 24 November 2007. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  17. ↑ Piel, David (1959-12-31), Harold and the Purple Crayon (Animation, Short, Family), Norman Rose, Brandon Films, retrieved 2024-07-11
  18. ↑ "Crockett Johnson Homepage: Film and Video". Ksu.ksu.edu. 2005-08-03. Archived from the original on 2012-02-20. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  19. ↑ Harold and the Purple Crayon (1959) at IMDb
  20. ↑ "Crockett Johnson: Film and Video – Philip Nel". Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  21. ↑ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 267. ISBN 978-1538103739.
  22. ↑ "Sony Pictures | The Best in Movies, TV Shows, Games & Apps". Haroldandthepurplecrayontv.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-27. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  23. ↑ Harold and the Purple Crayon (2002) at IMDb
  24. ↑ Rowles, Dustin (February 25, 2010). "Exclusive: Harold and the Purple Crayon Headed to the Big Screen". Pajiba. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved August 13, 2011.
  25. ↑ Tracking Board [@MyTrackingBoard] (December 7, 2016). ".@dallasclayton tapped to write adaptation of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" for Sony Animation (EXCLUSIVE) https://t.co/4TCmjXGD45 https://t.co/OLNUGitm1n" (Tweet). Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ "Harold is All Grown up in the First Posters for 'Harold and the Purple Crayon'". Collider. 13 March 2024.
  27. ↑ Kit, Borys (February 1, 2021). "Zachary Levi to Star in Sony's Live-Action 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Zooey Deschanel Joins Sony's Live-Action 'Harold and the Purple Crayon' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. 9 February 2022.
  29. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (September 9, 2021). "Sony Sets Dates For Whitney Houston & George Foreman Biopics, Two Others; 'Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile' On The Move". Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  30. ↑ Grobar, Matt (October 20, 2022). "'Harold And The Purple Crayon' Release Date Pushed Back By Sony". Deadline. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  31. ↑ Grobar, Matt (2023-05-16). "Sony Pushes 'Harold And The Purple Crayon' And 'They Listen' To 2024, Sets Dates For 'My Ex-Friend's Wedding,' 'Horrorscope' And 'Psycho-Pass: Providence'". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-05-17.
  32. ↑ "Harold and the Purple Crayon". DC Theatre Scene. 2008-09-24. Retrieved 2015-10-26.
  33. ↑ Archived February 13, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  34. ↑ AJR [@AJRBrothers] (March 11, 2022). "Been waiting to announce this for a minute now. Big Broadway dreams slowly coming true 🖍 https://t.co/emjOCV0OaX" (Tweet). Archived from the original on March 14, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022 – via Twitter.
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