I think one of the most enduring classics of children's literature is Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon.
Written in 1955 it is the story of a little boy named Harold who draws his way through the world. In fact, he draws everything in his world with his crayon: picnics, skyscrapers, even his own house and his bed.
In the end he "draws" up his covers and goes to sleep. As a little girl it worried me that he came home to a house that he had to draw but now I find it comforting and sweet.I love that he could completely orchestrate his own adventure!
The Preschool kids and I read the book. They particularly liked that Harold was able to get out of each jam with his own clever drawings.
I then presented them with xeroxes of photos I'd taken of them at the end of the previous class.
I asked them each to draw two pictures: one of themselves having an adventure
and one of themselves returning home. I think they had a pretty good time!
