Green Is for Christmas

September 1, 2021
Familiar crayon characters argue over which color is the essential Christmas color. Green starts by saying that green is for Christmas. After all, green is for holly. But Red objects. Red is for candy canes. Green is for fir trees, Green retorts. But Red is for Santa Claus, who agrees. (Santa is depicted as a white-bearded White man.) Then White joins the fray. After spending the year being invisible, White isn't giving up the distinction of association with Christmas. Snow, anyone? But then there's Silver: stars and bells. And Brown: cookies and reindeer! At this point, everyone is confused. But they come together and agree that Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without all of them together. Someone may get the last word, though. In Daywalt and Jeffers' now-signature style, the crayon-written text is spare and humorous, while the crayon characters engage with each other against a bare white background, vying for attention. Dot-eyed faces and stick legs on each object turn them all into comical, if similar, personalities. But the series' original cleverness is absent here, leaving readers with a perfunctory recitation of attributes. Fans of the crayon books may delight in another themed installment; those who aren't already fans will likely find it lacking. (This book was reviewed digitally.) Fun enough to read once but without enough substance to last. (Picture book. 3-6)

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November 1, 2021

K-Gr 2-Holiday humor and fun abound in this new Christmas-themed collaboration. The crayons are out to celebrate the season, but Green thinks that he is the only Christmas color. When Red jumps in, noting Christmas things that are red, other crayons add to the mix. In the end, the crayons come to the conclusion that Green is not the only Christmas color, but a great part of the multiple colors that can be used to color iconic symbols and objects. Fans of the "Crayons" series will enjoy this holiday-themed addition. Lovers of the previous books will enjoy the Crayons's humor. The bright colors and clever illustrations with quirky details. VERDICT A must-have holiday picture book that's a perfect pairing for those who have enjoyed the creators' previous outings. Vibrant, colorful, and full of holiday cheer.-Elizabeth Pelayo, St. Charles East H.S., IL

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