Harold and the Purple Crayon

This book's sly opening scene—designed to look as if Harold himself has scribbled over the page—cannot have pleased many librarians. The story that follows, however, clearly shows that Crockett Johnson's hero is not a defacer of public property but rather a young person with imagination to spare. As Harold calmly wields his crayon to remake the world according to his wants and wishes, he exemplifies the confident, self-starting child whom progressive educators like Lucy Sprague Mitchell dedicated themselves to nurturing. Aptly for a story with deep roots in the Bank Street School's "here and now" philosophy, Harold's ultimate destination is a city.

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