Red

By Michael Hall,

Book cover of Red: A Crayon's Story

Book description

A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times-bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and It's an Orange Aardvark! Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story, by Michael Hall, is about being true to your…


Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked Red as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I’ll never forget reading this tale of a blue crayon in a red wrapper, struggling to draw red. I stood in the children’s book shop, a grown lesbian, feeling the hair on my arms rise, my eyes fill. This story is full of humor as fellow crayons and art supplies offer advice: “he wasn’t warm enough” “He’s got to press harder.” But his struggle also breaks our hearts: “I think he’s lazy,” one crayon says. “The masking tape thought he was broken inside.” The dread of feeling that you can’t be what everyone wants is visceral. Clearly a perfect allegory…

From Charlotte's list on LGBTQ+ picture books.

Want books like Red?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like Red.

Browse books like Red

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in identity, school, and friendships?

Identity 122 books
School 276 books
Friendships 1,489 books