The Day the Crayons Quit
Twelve crayons send letters of complaint in their own unique voices, from a bitter beige to a naked peach. It is a series of short, funny readings that make it easy to stop whenever you need to.
The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt is estimated to take about 11 minutes to read aloud (999 words, about 4 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 4-8.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 11 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 999Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 4Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 4-8Our editorial fit
Our review
This book is a fun way to engage with color and personality. Each crayon has a distinct "complaint" about how they are used, which allows children to pick a favorite character to advocate for.
Because the book is structured as individual letters rather than one long narrative, it's incredibly flexible for busy schedules. You can read a few and stop without losing a plot, making it great for short attention spans.
Before you buy it
This book uses 999 words in letter form without a traditional plot. You'll likely need four-year-olds to be more attentive; five-year-olds with strong opinions about color will find it engaging.
Themes
- colours
- letters
- humour
- complaints
- drawing
Books like The Day the Crayons Quit
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read The Day the Crayons Quit aloud?
About 11 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 999. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is The Day the Crayons Quit actually for?
Ages 4-8 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 4 sentences a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does The Day the Crayons Quit survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Will my child memorise The Day the Crayons Quit?
It can. It scores 5 out of 5 with us for holding up to repeat reading, and children tend to learn by heart the books they ask for most, even without a strong refrain.
Can a beginning reader read The Day the Crayons Quit on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 4 sentences a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
What themes does The Day the Crayons Quit cover?
We tag it with colours, letters, humour, complaints and drawing. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists The Day the Crayons Quit is on
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