Crockett Johnson

Biography

• Johnson was born October 20, 1906 New York City, United States

• Leisk wrote under the name "Crockett Johnson" because, he said, "Crockett is my childhood nickname. My real name is David Johnson Leisk. Leisk was too hard to pronounce -- so -- I am now Crockett Johnson!”

• He was "six feet tall, tan, husky, and blue-eyed” • Like Barnaby and Harold (his two most famous characters), Johnson was bald. He once said

"I draw people without hair because it's so much easier! Besides, to me, people with hair look funny”

• Married Ruth Krauss, who also was a beast in children literature.• Died of lung cancer on July 11, 1975; he was 68.

Self Caricature

Harold and the Purple Crayon

• It is the first book of the series featuring Harold.• The rest are:1. Harold's Fairy Tale (1956)2. Harold's Trip to the Sky (1957)3. Harold at the North Pole (1958)4. Harold's Circus (1959)5. A Picture for Harold's Room (1960) 6. Harold's ABC(1963)

SummaryHAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON concerns a little boy who literally "colors his world" by using a crayon to draw whatever he happens to need. The story begins with the little boy, Harold, wanting to take a walk in the moonlight. Because there isn’t a moon, Harold decides to draw one, as well as a path to follow on his walk. When Harold realizes that the straight path is getting him nowhere, he decides to draw a short cut. As the story moves along, Harold and his crayon move along too. Harold draws what he desires, finds himself in difficulty, and draws his way out of his dilemmas. Harold draws his universe and walks through it, using his purple crayon to create and escape from his adventures, always ending up safe by the book's final page.

Themes

Escaping Trouble: This theme is expressed by Harold always drawing his way out of troubles. He runs into many obstacles but he always overcomes them with his trusty crayon. For example, towards the end when Harold falls of the mountain, he quickly draws a hot air balloon to land safely and avoid death.Freedom: This theme is expressed by Harold having the ability to roam around freely. He wonders around searching for his window and through his journey he encounters a dragon and feasts on nine different flavors of pie. He is alone in this little journey having the world to himself without adults or other children to help him. He is away secluded from reality and feeding off his imagination.

Why I love this book!I love this book because it always brings backs memories of when I would actually go into the library, pick up a book, and admire the simple yet powerful little stories. Also because Harold reminds me of Caillou, another little bald boy from my childhood. Other than feeling some nostalgia because of this pebble-head kid, I really enjoy this book because it goes to show how ANYONE can overcome obstacles. I mean c’mon, if this tiny hairless boy could escape a dragon, I’m sure we could all overcome our problems. I can relate to Harold because I try to overcome obstacles and continue searching for my window. This kid is a perfect epitome of who I am; a child who lives in his imagination. However, I am not bald like him. Damn, what am I writing now. Overall, This book is so simple, with dead space in ever corner of the page and nothing but a child and his crayon, yet it is a beast which brands a purple crayon in your tiny little mind.

The End.