The Day the Crayons Quit

Duncan just wants to color, but when he opens his box of crayons he finds a stack of letters addressed to him. His crayons have quit, and each one has its own complaint. Beige is tired of coming second to Brown. Black wants to be used for more than outlines. Blue needs a rest from coloring so many oceans and lakes. Orange and Yellow are no longer speaking, because each insists it is the true color of the sun.

Told almost entirely through the crayons' letters, with Oliver Jeffers's loose, hand-lettered illustrations carrying the jokes, this picture book from Drew Daywalt is funny, quick to read aloud and easy for young children to follow. Duncan has to work out how to make everyone happy again so he can get back to his drawing. It suits readers of about three to seven, and it won several children's choice awards after its 2013 release.