Published: 3 February 2015
Publisher: Library Binding
Illustrator: Michael Hall
Pages: 40
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars
Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let’s draw strawberries ), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange ), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can’t be red, no matter how hard he tries Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He’s blue This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone.
I love Red. When I first read it years ago it was a brilliant way to explain how people can be different on the inside than what their ‘label’ says they should be on the outside.
What is great about this book is its subtleness. It’s an easy metaphor for gender and even neurodivergence, but it is also a story for everyone about trying to be someone you’re not. No matter who you are, you should always be yourself, and not try and fit into the expectations others have put on you. You will feel more comfortable being true to yourself than stressed and worried trying to be someone you’re not.
The people around Red telling him to try harder, to do what he’s are supposed to so based on his label, not to mention the judgements that come when Red inevitably fails is perfect. If you’re expected to be able to do something, or supposed to act a certain way and you don’t it can make you feel like a failure. Hall gives us a story about the feeling of trying and trying but never being able to fit in how you’re supposed to, and maybe that’s ok.
Crayons and colours are a great teaching tool and being blue while looking red on the outside is a wonderful example of despite trying to do what you’re supposed to do, somethings you can’t help it. Red wants to draw strawberries, wants to help draw an orange, but he can’t.
It’s a great example that what’s on the inside is important no matter what someone’s exterior looks like and even if that is different, they still have value and can contribute in their own unique ways.
You can purchase Red: A Crayon’s Story via the following
Wordery | Blackwell’s | Angus & Robertson
Fishpond | Amazon | Amazon Aust | Audible
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