Buzz
Great children’s books often convey profound ideas through seemingly simple stories. Harold and the Purple Crayon, Crockett Johnson’s 1955 masterpiece, brilliantly blends philosophy with imagination. The story follows Harold, a young boy who embarks on a moonlit adventure without a moon—using his oversized purple crayon to shape his own world. When challenges like dragons appear, Harold sketches solutions, ultimately finding his way back to the safety of his bed. While younger readers are captivated by the whimsical tale, older audiences appreciate its deeper reflections on reality. A film adaptation is set to release on August 2. Dive deeper to uncover fascinating details about Harold and the Purple Crayon, including its surprising link to Sharon Stone.
Crockett Johnson began his career as a comic strip creator.
Born David Johnson Leisk on October 20, 1906, Crockett Johnson—his pen name derived from a childhood nickname—first gained fame for his comic strip work. After studying art at Cooper Union and New York University, Johnson took on various jobs, including working at an ice plant and even playing professional football, before launching his comic strip Barnaby in 1942. The strip revolved around a young boy, Barnaby Baxter, and his invisible “Fairy Godfather,” Mr. O’Malley. Johnson stepped away from the strip in 1946 but returned as a story consultant and later wrote and illustrated its final installment in 1952. That same year, he published his debut children’s book, Who’s Upside Down?
Crockett’s editor initially gave Harold and the Purple Crayon a lukewarm response.
When Johnson presented the manuscript for Harold and the Purple Crayon to Ursula Nordstrom, a children’s book editor at Harper & Row, her response was far from enthusiastic. In her 1954 reply to Johnson, she tried to soften her critique with polite words, stating:
“Dear Dave: The dummy [copy] of Harold and the Purple Crayon arrived this morning, and I’ve just finished reading it. I’m unsure how to feel about it. It doesn’t strike me as a strong children’s book, though I’ve been wrong before—and this post-Children’s Book Week Monday has left me feeling utterly drained. I might even overlook Tom Sawyer today. May I hold onto the dummy for a few more days?”
Nordstrom eventually reconsidered her stance and aligned with readers’ opinions. Harold and the Purple Crayon became a hit after its 1955 debut and has remained in print ever since.
Maurice Sendak wasn’t just an admirer of Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Renowned Where the Wild Things Are author Maurice Sendak was a vocal supporter of Harold and the Purple Crayon, though his admiration went beyond mere appreciation. Sendak trained as an artist under Johnson, often spending weekends with Johnson and his wife, Ruth Krauss, at their Long Island Sound home during the 1950s. Before launching his own career, Sendak worked with Krauss on several of her books.
Harold evolved into the central figure of his own book series.
The popularity of Harold and the Purple Crayon inspired Johnson to feature Harold in multiple sequels. Over time, Harold starred in seven of Johnson’s works, such as Harold’s Fairy Tale (1956), Harold’s Trip to the Sky (1957), Harold at the North Pole (1958), Harold’s Circus (1959), A Picture for Harold’s Room (1960), and Harold’s ABC (1963).
A special edition of Harold and the Purple Crayon included an actual purple crayon.
During the 1960s, Scholastic released a unique edition of Harold and the Purple Crayon that paired the book with a record. The record featured an audio narration of the story accompanied by music. As an added treat, the package also contained a purple crayon for readers.
The FBI kept a close watch on Johnson.
Johnson, who passed away in 1975, lived a life far from ordinary for an artist. Both he and Krauss were monitored by the FBI during the 1950s due to their political views. Johnson had served as the art editor for the Communist publication The New Masses, and although he never openly supported Communism, the FBI maintained a dossier on him, labeling him as a subversive figure. Despite their scrutiny, he was never formally charged with any allegations.
Harold and The Purple Crayon has been reimagined across various formats, including a project featuring Sharon Stone.
Three of the Harold books were turned into animated shorts: Harold and the Purple Crayon (1959), A Picture for Harold’s Room (1971), and Harold’s Fairy Tale (1974). These films were later compiled into a VHS release in 1993. HBO also created a 13-episode animated series in 2001, narrated by actress Sharon Stone (Basic Instinct). Both Spike Jonze and Steven Spielberg expressed interest in adapting the book into a film, but Carlos Saldanha (Ice Age) ultimately directed the live-action version, set to release in August 2024.
“When the chance arose to bring this story to the big screen, it resonated deeply with me, as both Harold and I are transitioning from animation to live-action,” the director shared with Publishers Weekly. Zachary Levi stars as Harold, while Zooey Deschanel, who has described Harold as “one of my favorite children’s books,” plays a supporting role.
