Lists
A Complete Guide to The Day the Crayons Quit Books
The Day the Crayons Quit was published in 2013, and almost instantly became a bestseller and modern children’s classic. Kids and adults alike fell in love with the hilarious story and quirky illustrations. Since then, the Crayons have returned in sequels, board books, holiday stories, and books celebrating everything from birthdays to the first day of school.
With so many Crayons books now available, you might be wondering: how many The Day the Crayons Quit books are there, and what order should you read them in? Our guide breaks it all down.
What are the main books in the series?
Duncan opens his crayon box to find them all missing, with a stack of letters in their place. Fed up with being pigeonholed into conventional roles, the crayons abandoned their box, leaving angry letters and complaints for Duncan. He must get creative and find a colorful way to convince the crayons to return.
Not only does this hilarious picture book help kids learn their colors, but it also explores feelings, creativity, and seeing things from a different perspective.
In the sequel, Duncan is coloring when he receives a large stack of postcards from lost crayons that want to come home. Whether they got stuck between the couch cushions downstairs or lost while on vacation, each hilarious postcard explains the crayons’ predicaments and asks for rescue. Duncan must once again find a creative solution to bring his missing crayons home.
Yet again, Duncan opens his crayon box to find his errant art supplies have vanished. But when the stack of mail arrives, Duncan learns that this time, they’ve left voluntarily. Whether they’re living out their dreams of becoming a chef in the play kitchen or creating a quiet life tending to a herd of dog biscuits, each crayon ventured out in search of something new. Thankfully, they’re all excited to share their adventures with Duncan and invite him to visit them in their new lives.
Are there The Day the Crayons Quit board books for babies and toddlers?
Absolutely! While the original The Day the Crayons Quit doesn’t exist in board book format, several spin-off board books and giftable options are available for younger readers ages 1-3 or 2-5, depending on the title.
The series for babies and toddlers is called My First Crayons, and it’s the perfect way to introduce your little one to the crayons’ world. This series includes books that teach basic concepts such as numbers, colors, and feelings.
Books in the series include:
It’s Duncan’s birthday, and all the Crayons want to make him a card! With their fun and quirky illustrations of firetrucks, dragons, and (dare we say?) wheat, these creative Crayons each have something different to contribute. When they come together, they can make something truly spectacular to celebrate Duncan’s birthday!
Poor Duncan can’t catch a break! First, his Crayons go on strike. Then, they come back home. Now his favorite colors are missing once again! Can you count up all the Crayons that are missing from his box?
Everyone knows the Crayons love to color, but did you know that Crayons have feelings too? Sometimes they are happy, and sometimes they feel downright blue.
Explore the full My First Crayons collection here.
Are there more books featuring the Crayons?
Yes! In addition to the main series, board books, and gift options, Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers have created a number of funny and quirky celebration stories. The Crayons Celebrate is a large collection of shorter books featuring the Crayons celebrating holidays, special occasions, school, bedtime, and other familiar moments in a child’s life. As with the original book, these books are geared toward children ages 4-8.
This collection includes Crayon books for Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, Valentine’s Day, birthdays, back-to-school, and more:
’Tis the season for all of us to write our holiday wish lists. But everyone—even the Crayons—know the best presents are the ones that you give. In this unique book, readers get to see how Duncan, The Crayons, and their families celebrate the holidays. With real, folded letters from the Crayons that you can pull from their envelopes and read, plus games, punch-out ornaments, a poster, and a pop-up tree, this book is the perfect gift for the holidays.
The Crayons are getting ready to go to bed, but each crayon has something special they need to fall asleep. Blue Crayon needs a drink of water, Orange Crayon needs a blankie, Red Crayon needs a story or two or three. What do you need to fall asleep?
The Crayons are getting ready to go back to school, and each crayon has a subject they’re looking forward to the most. They’re also ready to meet new friends . . . and let loose during their very favorite time of day: art class.
Easter is the perfect holiday for the Crayons! They get to learn new shapes and decorate one giant egg together…but where will they hide it?! Blue Crayon has some ideas…
The Crayons want to go trick-or-treating, but they’re not sure what to say! In this charming Halloween story, Purple Crayon teaches the rest of the crayon box the magic words to say when they ring their neighbors’ doorbells. (Hint: It’s NOT “Boo!”)
Explore the full The Crayons Celebrate collection here.
Frequently asked questions
How many The Day the Crayons… books are there?
There are three books in the core The Day the Crayons… picture book series: The Day the Crayons Quit, The Day the Crayons Came Home, and The Day the Crayons Made Friends. There are also a growing number of additional books featuring the Crayons in the My First Crayons and The Crayons Celebrate collections.
Do I have to read The Day the Crayons… series in order?
No, each book in The Day the Crayons… series can be enjoyed on its own. There are no cliffhangers, and each book has an independent story. You can pick up any title in the series without feeling lost or confused.
However, some small elements carry over from one book to the next. For example, one crayon changes his name in The Day the Crayons Came Home, and that character later reappears under his new name in The Day the Crayons Made Friends. So, while it is fun to read the series in order and try to catch any carryover elements, it is not required.
Who wrote The Day the Crayons Quit?
Drew Daywalt wrote The Day the Crayons Quit and all the other books and spin-off titles featuring the quirky art supplies. He is an award-winning author known for his unconventional humor and engaging stories that captivate children.
Has the author of The Day the Crayons Quit written any other books?
Yes! Drew Daywalt is a prolific children’s book author with over 35 books to his name. In addition to his bestselling Crayons books, Drew Daywalt has penned delightful bedtime stories like Sleepy the Goodnight Buddy and hilarious stories that break the fourth wall, such as The Wrong Book and Little Freddy Two Pants.
Who illustrated The Day the Crayons Quit?
Oliver Jeffers is the beloved artist and children’s book illustrator for all the books in The Day the Crayons… series, including The Day the Crayons Quit. He is also a bestselling author of funny, inventive, and thought-provoking picture books such as Stuck, There’s a Ghost in This House, and Here We Are. Readers of all ages will easily recognize his unique, expressive illustrations and hand-lettered text.
What age is The Day the Crayons Quit for?
The Day the Crayons Quit, itssequels, and spin-offs are geared toward children ages 4-8. The My First Crayons board books provide an option for younger children, with individual titles generally intended for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.
Can I watch a read-aloud video of The Day the Crayons Quit?
Yes! Ms. Linda read The Day the Crayons Quit aloud on Brightly Storytime. You can watch the official read-aloud video on YouTube.
