Harold's Fairy Tale

This book is great for every child. It really gets them to using their imagination. 4 books in one makes for a great value.

"One evening Harold got out of bed, took his purple crayon and the moon along, and went for a walk in an enchanted garden". So begins this classic tale, which expands on numerous original elements first introduced in its also excellent predecessor, Harold and the Purple Crayon. Harold exists in a world entirely defined by his imagination and the lines he draws with his purple crayon. These include a horizontal line - the horizon, the presence of which puts Harold on the ground, and the moon, placed in the sky, to differentiate what is up from down. But there is a problem with the enchanted garden; "Nothing grew in it. If he hadn't known it was an enchanted garden, Harold would scarcely have called it a garden at all". To deal with the issue, the protagonist of the story decides to have a conversation with the king. The action that subsequently unfolds has all the elements of a true heroic quest. Harold draws a castle (because he knows that kings live in castles) but finds his entrance barred by a gate that has been shut. Ever resourceful, he draws a mouse that is larger than he is. As a result, Harold has been downsized and can freely enter via an adjacent mouse hole. And now comes one of my favorite lines, "He invited the mouse in too, but the mouse preferred to stay outside". Realizing that as a pint sized person his audience with the king may be compromised, Harold sizes the stairs leading up to the throne room so that he is four and a half steps high - his usual height. Our hero is called upon to utilize all his resourcefulness to deal with the witch that turns out to have caused the enchantment in the garden. And even after this has been accomplished, more adventure accompanies Harold on his journey back home. But in the end all is well. Swept away on an out of control flying carpet that climbs even higher than the moon, Harold draws the fireplace and the high backed chair from his living room at home around it. The flying carpet is now a familiar rug. Harold asks his mother (who is seated in the chair) to read him a story before he goes back to bed. This book is a true delight. I suspect you will enjoy reading it to your children almost as much as they enjoy hearing it read.

Impossible to beat the original "Harold and the Purple Crayon", this is certainly the next best thing. This story is appealing to a somewhat older child than the original story, as it is a bit more complex. It is better than "Trip to the Sky", which has an odd story line that children do not follow as well. The new books that go with the television series are weak in comparison to the books written by Crockett Johnson.

You have to love Harold and his purple crayon! You never know where they are going to take you. In this adventure, he and his crayon meet a king who is sad because there are no flowers in his enchanted garden. Well, Harold finds the reason for this crime and takes care of it. Well written and in such a nice rhythm. Your child will ask questions, think up scenarios, and wonder aloud at what will happen next.

This was the cutest book I've ever read. If you're thinking about reading a short story this summer, read "Harold's Fairy Tale:Further Adventures with the Purple Crayon." By: Crockett Johnson. Remember this book deserves five stars. Have fun reading!