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