A Day with No Crayons

A few years ago, I took my young son to an art class where the children explored a new medium each week with a backdrop of music, storytelling and a snack (of course!). Part of the process was parent participation, because these two- and three-year olds were just beginning to explore the tools used to create their weekly works of art. I was dismayed by one grandmother who routinely intervened in this process of discovery for her granddaughter with comments like "no, the eyes need to go here" and "the mouth isn't big enough" or "a turtle is green, not pink." You could just see that toddler's natural creativity being limited by the artificial restrictions being placed on her projects. Thank goodness for A Day With No Crayons by Liz Rusch. Rusch aptly delivers the message to both parents and children that creativity need not be limited by tools or methods or other people's expectations. When Liza goes a little too far with her crayons, she embarks on a journey, discovering her creativity is bounded only by her imagination. The text is engaging and has a pleasant read-aloud rhythm. Chad Cameron beautifully illustrates the descriptive story with clever combinations of real-world textures and painterly brush strokes. A keen observer will find Cameron's nod toward Van Gogh and Jackson Pollack. The closing illustration is a delightful rendering showing how art can be found anywhere, even in the mess on a child's bedroom floor.

I teach art to all ages, and there is a Liza in every class: a true artist who knows that art has nothing to do with the tools you use, but the way in which you SEE. This book makes me want to run and jump into the colorful world and engages children to do the same. Delightful!

This book is beautiful to look at and a delightful read. Kids will appreciate the sympathetic narrator and adults will get a kick out of the references to major artists. It captures well the spirit of creativity with its suggestion that art can be found anywhere and everywhere!

A Day With No Crayons is a delightful children's picturebook celebrating creativity. When young Liza draws on the white wall with crayons, her mother takes them away. With the crayons gone, all the color drains from Liza's world. What is a budding artist to do? Then bit by bit, Liza discovers color in the world all around her, and that there are many new ways to express her imaginative side! The illustrations by Chad Cameron perfectly capture a little girl's enthusiasm, in this read-aloud picturebook ideal for sharing with young people who love to color.

Both the author and the illustrator make this book absolutely amazing. I love the little girl's imagination when she no longer has her crayons. However, the illustrator truly made this book come alive for me. My six year old daughter does not want to put the book down!