Harold and the Purple Crayon: Exploration and Play are Just a Stroke Away (ft. Chris Van Allsburg & Brian Pinkney)
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Do you remember reading Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon? To his friends and family Crockett was Dave Leisk. You might know him best for the bold purple line that gives shape to the spare illustrations of Harold and Purple Crayon, published in 1955.

In this episode, Chris Van Allsburg and Brian Pinkney reflect on the influence Harold and the Purple Crayon had on them, their work, and the value they believe it offers young readers.

To learn more about Chris Van Allsburg’s, or Brian Pinkney’s books, visit 
https://www.harpercollins.com/search?q=chris+van+allsburg
https://www.harpercollins.com/search?q=brian+pinkney

Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.


[1:55] Does loving Harold and the Purple Crayon as a child guarantee future artistic talent?

[5:47] Bad Day at Riverbend follows the style of a coloring book with a twist.

[10:44] Similar to Brandon's blanket in Brian's book Brandon and the Baby, Harold's purple crayon conjures magic at every turn

[14:17] Brian and Chris embrace play and experimentation in their creative process, albeit with distinct approaches.

[18:36] Artists like Crockett Johnson have a long tradition of mentoring, motivating, and celebrating younger generations’ work.

[23:57] Filmmakers have cracked the story and are bringing Harold and the Purple Crayon to the big screen.

[26:53] Maurice Sendak, Brian, and Chris believe Harold and the Purple Crayon offers value to young readers.


Continue Your Journey:
Brian Pinkney
HarperCollins
Remember Reading Podcast
@ReadingPod on Twitter

Shareables:

“The concept behind Harold and the Purple Crayon was so simple. Something so easily grasped by a child and yet so fruitful in terms of the kind of narrative opportunities. The story you can tell having embraced this simple, magical idea of a crayon that could be used to create the world that Harold moved through.” — Chris Van Allsburg, author and illustrator of Bad Day at Riverbend

“The conclusion I came to, and it might overlap slightly with Harold, but it was the idea that in our lives that fate can be as fickle as a 6-year-old with a yellow crayon.” — Chris Van Allsburg, author and illustrator of Bad Day at Riverbend

“You can create magic in any moment even when things seem like it’s perilous. You can still, you know, use your imagination to come up with a solution.” — Brian Pinkney, author and illustrator of Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!

“Sometimes I'll paint things before I know what they're going to be and I don’t see it until it’s already painted and then I can make, you know, changes and that’s when the play begins.” — Brian Pinkney, author and illustrator of Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!

“It was fascinating to see that the young artists were not only interested in how I taught them art but in me as a person and that I valued what they were making.” — Brian Pinkney, author and illustrator of Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!

“I love it when books become movies because I love seeing how a different format and a different eye and different creative process will envision something.” — Brian Pinkney, author and illustrator of Hey Otter! Hey Beaver!

Harold and the Purple Crayon: Exploration and Play are Just a Stroke Away

Books have the power to inspire young people to take action and make a difference in the world. They open doors to understanding, creating awareness of real-world challenges while fostering a deep, personal connection to these struggles.  

In this episode, we explore stories that motivate and encourage action. Linda Sue Park and Salva Dut describe the journey that inspired A Long Walk to Water, Brian Pinkney returns to discuss the companion book, Nya's Long Walk: One Step at a Time, and Jasmine Warga emphasizes the connection between awareness and activism.

To learn more about Linda Sue Park’s, Jasmine Warga’s or Brian Pinkney’s books, visit 
harpercollins.com/search?q=linda+sue+park
harpercollins.com/search?q=jasmine+warga
harpercollins.com/search?q=Brian+Pinkney


Do you have a story about how a classic book changed your life? Tweet @readingpod or email us at readingpod@harpercollins.com. Learn more at rememberreading.com. And, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts.


[2:34] Believing young people should know Salva Dut’s journey, Linda Sue wrote A Long Walk to Water.

[7:10] In Houston, Texas, Jasmine Warga’s sixth-grade students had an immediate connection to Salva’s story.

[8:14] After eleven years of displacement, the chance to go to the U.S. presented Salva with new cultural challenges. 

[12:40] In her book, Other Words from Home, Jasmine reveals the stark contrast between life in Syria before and after the war.

[17:30] Brian Pinkney discusses the challenge of depicting the emotional quality of caring for a younger sibling in his illustrations for the picture book, Nya’s Long Walk: One Step at a Time.

[19:13] Salva’s Water for South Sudan project educates Sudanese people to maintain the more than 600 wells drilled by the non-profit.

[24:10] In Gracie Under the Waves, Linda Sue raises awareness of an environmental issue and calls young people to action.


Continue Your Journey:
Linda Sue Park
Jasmine Warga
HarperCollins
Remember Reading Podcast
@ReadingPod on Twitter

Shareables:

“What meeting Salva did was turn The Lost Boys of Sudan from a news headline into something personal.” — Linda Sue Park, author of A Long Walk to Water 

“Salva's readers have literally raised millions of dollars. You know, they are responsible for hundreds and hundreds of wells that are now serving hundreds of thousands of people.” — Linda Sue Park, author and Newbery Medal winner

“There is an activism component woven into Gracie's story because we only have one planet, and it's in big trouble.” — Linda Sue Park, author and Newbery Medal winner

“What would it be like for me if my cousins from Jordan had come to live with me when I was in seventh grade? Would I have been welcoming to them?” — Jasmine Warga, author of Other Words from Home

“A big part of the book is, do you see what I see? Have you found what I put there for you?” — Jasmine Warga, author of A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall

“After you work that hard and come back the next year to see that the water has really changed life there, people are happy, and they are using it, and they are healthy.” — Salva Dut, Co-founder of Water for South Sudan

A Long Walk to Water: When Books Become a Call to Action

On this week’s episode, we listen to a clip from the audiobook version of PAX by Sara Pennypacker. 

The story of a boy and his pet Fox, separated by war, this beautifully wrought, utterly compelling novel about the essential truths that define us and the devastating costs of war, is destined to become a beloved classic. 

You can buy the audiobook of PAX on audible, where it is currently on sale!

Buy The Book Here!

An Excerpt of PAX by Sara Pennypacker

On the season 2 premier we celebrate Own Voices with Jerry Craft and Bahni Turpin!

Subscribe to our podcast here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/harperaudio-presents/id806303320

First, Andrew chats with Jerry Craft, the author and illustrator of NEW KID. They talk about how the graphic novel was adapted for audio, public school vs. private school, and more. Then, Jerry plays a game about giving good directions, and his son even joins us in the booth.

Then, world-class narrator Bahni Turpin subjects herself to her past work, as she plays the Self-Awarness Game.

Finally, we hear the first few minutes from the latest audiobook Bahni's narrated - ON THE COME UP, the latest novel from bestselling author of THE HATE U GIVE, Angie Thomas.

Subscribe Here!

S2E1: Own Voices (With Jerry Craft and Bahni Turpin)

A family podcast about classic children’s books and the impact they have on us long into adulthood. In each episode, we talk about one popular children's book from the past, uncovering the unique story behind the story. While sitting down with famous, award-winning authors, we investigate the timeless themes in kids’ books.

A Long Walk to Water: When Books Become a Call to Action

Remember Reading Podcast

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