In this joyous and inventive rereading of the beloved children's book Harold and the Purple
Crayon the author of How We Change (And Ten Reasons Why We Don't) celebrates our inherent
sacred originality and establishes a new framework for self-reliance. In 1955 Crockett Johnson
introduced one of the world's most beloved and enduring young adventurers Harold and his
purple crayon. Today we need Harold and his penchant for creative solutions more than ever. In
Purple Crayons Ross Ellenhorn looks to Johnson's classic for insights and answers that can
help us understand our current condition and point the way towards solutions for healing.
Purple Crayons tells a story about America then and now about living one's life as art about
the powers that block us from doing so about the pull and perils of conformity about serious
play and too much seriousness about what it means to feel alive inside and what deadens our
existence. It's also about 1955 in America all that lay before and-presciently-all that lay
ahead as each of us struggles to draw meaningful and resilient existences on the blank
pages-the future yet unlived-of our lives. This delightful provocative adventure is a gift of
kindness and love that encourages us and gives us hope. As he traces Harold's journey
Ellenhorn offers insights into our sacred originality-the idea that each of our unique inner
lives are worth nurturing and protecting and the perseverance courage connection and
community necessary to sustain them. Engaging thoughtful wise-and illustrated throughout with
drawings from the original Harold-Purple Crayons transcends the current divides separating us
reminding us that our fulfillment rests on tapping into what is original about ourselves
finding ways to express our originality and understanding that doing so is rooted in who we
are as Americans.
