Literacy Matters Vol. 25 Winter 2025

Red: A Crayon’s Story Written and Illustrated by Michael Hall. Greenwillow Books, 2015. $11.90, Grades Pre-K-3. —Riley Still Ever since Red, the Crayon could remember, he never felt like he felt in. Red: A Crayon’s Story tells the story of Red, a crayon labeled Red but only draws and colors in blue. This mismatch between Red’s label and his true nature causes

Remarkably You Written by Pat Zietlow Miller. Illustrated by Patrice Barton. HarperCollins, 2019. $15.99, Grades PreK-2. —Gabrielle Trowbridge

“Follow your path. Do what you love to do. Be completely, uniquely, remarkably you.”The illustrations help to create a story that encourages every child to be themselves. The playful, vibrant, and expressive illustrations convey a story children can relate to. The children in the story come from diverse backgrounds and cultures with unique abilities and strengths. For younger and older children alike, this story embodies the theme that everyone is unique, and that should be embraced and celebrated. With the use of lyrical, rhyming text, the story delivers an uplifting message for children about being authentic and finding value in yourself. Remarkably You celebrates diverse personalities and backgrounds and reminds our readers that they do not have to fit into one singular mold.

frustration and confusion as everyone around, including the other crayons, tells him he is not doing anything right. Despite his efforts and trying his best to meet the expectations set upon him by others, Red feels as if he can never succeed and live up to others’ expectations. Red goes through a journey of accepting himself while making new friends along the way. The story touches on the importance of kindness and understanding others with all our differences and similarities. Hall creates a story exploring themes of self-acceptance, identity, and the importance of embracing one’s true self. Hall’s illustrations are simple yet incredibly effective in conveying the story’s emotional depth by utilizing vibrant colors and expressive faces on each of the crayons, which, in turn, bring the characters to life. Hall’s Story is a delightful and thought provoking book that will resonate with children and adults alike.

Literacy Matters Literature Matters

S Jill Shelnut , a former kindergarten and special education teacher, is a lecturer on early childhood education at the College of Education at Clemson University.

Literacy Matters | Volume 25 • Winter 2025 | 29 |

CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO TABLE OF CONTENTS