• Home
    • Praise and Press
    • About
  • TLB Classes
    • Class Descriptions
    • Online Parent Education Classes
  • Blog
    • Homeschooling
    • Charlotte Mason
    • Booklist
    • Reading and Storytelling
    • Cultivating Love of Learning
    • Parenting Thoughts
      • Memory-Making
    • Five in a Row
      • Before Five in a Row
  • Shop
    • Request/Pre-Order Books Here
    • TLB Gift Card
    • My Account
    • View Cart
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Lost password
  • Book lists
    • Living Books Planning Tool
    • Filipino Living Books Book List
    • Philippine History: A Booklist
    • Catholic Homeschooling Booklist
  • Search the TLB Book Shop
    • Picture Books By Age
      • Board Books
      • Ages 0-2
      • Ages 2-4
      • Ages 4-6
      • Ages 6-8
    • Chapter Books
      • Ages 8-10
      • Ages 10 up
    • Homeschooling
      • CM Homeschooling/Living Books
      • Five in a Row
      • Before Five in a Row
      • Math Books
      • Catholic Books
    • Philippine Published Books
      • Free Downloads
      • Ages 0 to 2
      • Ages 2 to 4
      • Ages 4 to 6
      • Ages 6 to 8
      • Ages 8 to 10
      • Ages 10 and up
      • Chapter Books
      • Board Books
    • Classics
    • Award-Winning Books
    • Recommended Reads for Parents
    • Educational Toys and Materials

The Learning Basket

You Are Your Child's First and Best Teacher

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Harold and the Purple Crayon: Creating Your Own World

September 7, 2012 by The Learning Basket 4 Comments

  • Total13
  • 8
  • 1
  • 4
See the pun?

Little T had been drawing houses, flowers, and whatever she could think of, for several days in a row. Her MegaSketcher was hardly out of her lap, so I thought we would read the perfect book to support this fervor in drawing.

Harold and the Purple Crayon
Written by Crockett Johnson and published in 1955, “Harold and the Purple Crayon” celebrates the creative process of drawing and the power of imagination. It has never been out of print and is in various lists of best picture books. 
The story starts with Harold, a little boy, thinking of what he wanted to do and proceeded to create (draw) his own world. We love it!
Manila Paper and Purple Crayon
The most obvious activity for this, of course, was drawing on a large piece of paper with a purple crayon. I thought it would make a great gift wrapper after! But surprise, surprise, Little T didn’t want to do it. So back to the MegaSketcher we went, drawing ghosts with stairs on its back, and families kissing each other, etc. It’s fine really, because I took out the book exactly because she was already making her own worlds in her MegaSketcher.
I Made A Line

I always try to get a good go-along for any book that we are reading. For “Harold and the Purple Crayon”, I took out the similarly-themed “I Made A Line” by Leonard Kessler, another popular and well-regarded author and illustrator.

“I Made A Line” is full of drawing concepts, like round, square, dash, draw up, draw down, that helps children see that lines do make drawings! It was fun reading aloud from the book and having Little T draw what she hears me say…

“I can make a line go round and round like the sun or a wheel”

“I can make a line go dash, dash, dash into the sea”

And then hearing her make her own drawing instructions…
“First, you need a U to make a face”


Hi-Tech

“Five in a Row” encourages the reader to explore the different perspectives to be found in “Harold and the Purple Crayon.” A square, seen from above, is a square. A square, seen from the side, like when drawing a picnic blanket, is a diamond.

My husband, the Wonderful G, said he had an idea that I wouldn’t like. (Why he was right is worthy of another blog post.) But since I asked him to be the “art teacher” in the first place, I let him carry out his plan. He and Little T used his iPad (can’t believe I agreed!) to take pictures of square and round objects from different angles. Little T then traced the figures with her finger. The clear demonstration led Little T to discover for herself that a square seen from the side looks like a diamond but is still really a square.

The alternative idea would have been ideal: take pictures, print out, then use markers to trace the figures. But, as I said, I did ask my husband for his participation. And so the iPad made its way into our mostly electronic-media-free learning. (Can you tell, I really didn’t like it! :D)

Make magic!

Related Posts

  • 6 Easy Ways To Encourage Kids To Move6 Easy Ways To Encourage Kids To Move
  • “K” is for Kangaroo, Kittens, and Kisses“K” is for Kangaroo, Kittens, and Kisses
  • Easter for Toddlers without Bunnies and EggsEaster for Toddlers without Bunnies and Eggs
  • Heart of Homeschooling: Heart FormationHeart of Homeschooling: Heart Formation
  • 10 Things I Love About Preschool Homeschool10 Things I Love About Preschool Homeschool
  • Even Small Kids Can Learn Big WordsEven Small Kids Can Learn Big Words
  • Engineering for Kids Classes for Ages 4 to 14Engineering for Kids Classes for Ages 4 to 14
  • Let’s Play Pretend!Let’s Play Pretend!
  • Total13
  • 8
  • 1
  • 4
«
»

About The Learning Basket

TLB is composed of two moms who love to read and are homeschoolers.

Welcome


Hi there!

Whether you are a busy working mom, a work-at-home mom, or a stay-at-home mom, you are sure to find parenting and learning inspiration on our pages and parent education workshops to empower you to be your child’s first and best teacher.

Make magic with your child!

Search for Blog Posts

Search Learning Ideas

  • Before Five in a Row
  • Booklist
  • Charlotte Mason
  • Cultivating Love of Learning
  • Educational Materials
  • Five in a Row
  • Fun Friday Ideas
  • Homeschooling
  • Memory-Making
  • Parent Education
  • Parenting Thoughts
  • Past Parent Education Classes
  • Reading and Storytelling
  • Uncategorized

Upcoming Events

preschool homeschool

NOW OPEN — Everything you need to start homeschooling your preschooler is right here (Feb 11 to March 4 2023)

In these uncertain times, we can still enjoy our children while helping them to love learning. Learn everything you need to know to start homeschooling your preschooler in this comprehensive online parent education program.

Subscribe

Get updates on learning ideas, parenting events & shop offers!

Copyright © 2023 · Web Design by Fancy Girl Design Studio · Shop Set Up by Marge Aberásturi

Copyright © 2023 · Learning Basket Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in