This book was recently read to me by my eight-year-old granddaughter, Paisley. This was extra special to me because we used to read together a lot, but last year she moved to Texas and I had just returned from my first visit to my family over there. A few days after my return, she videocalled me just to read me this story. It marked the first time she managed to get through a whole book without becoming distracted during one of our video chats.

She stayed focused and excited as she read to me about the crayons and those two things alone told me this was a wonderful children's book. When she held up each page to show me the postcards each crayon had sent to their owner, a kid named Duncan, telling their woeful tales of what had happened to them, I knew this was an awesome book, keeping her engaged and empathetic to the plight of these crayons.

There's poor Turquoise, who is stuck to one of Duncan’s stinky socks after they both ended up in the dryer together. There's Pea Green, who changed his name to Esteban the Magnificent because he knows darn well that no kid likes peas. And there's Maroon, who was lost beneath the sofa cushions and then broken in two after Duncan's dad sat on him.

The illustrations were bright and colorful, conveying the crayons' story wonderfully, with silliness and whimsy, through each postcard that was sent. The story was lighthearted and funny, endearing the reader and investing them in the messages each crayon had to share.

I enjoyed the book, but I enjoyed the enthusiasm and joy even more that my granddaughter showed as she read me this story.

Not only would I recommend it, I plan to go read the first book in the series, as well as gift my granddaughter with the rest of the collection for Christmas. ~~ Dee Astell

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