The Last Two Crayons

Sienna looks forward to drawing a picture for her school’s spring art show, until she ends up with the last two crayons...

By the time Sienna arrives at the art table in her classroom, all the crayons are gone except dark brown and light brown. Now how can she make a special picture for the art show? Andy teases that all she’ll be able to draw is mud and dog poop. Her teacher tries to cheer her up, telling her that lots of wonderful things are brown. So Sienna imagines some of her favorite things ― her grandma’s rose garden, her new bicycle, rainbows ― but none of them are brown! Her friends remind her that chocolate ice cream is brown, and so is the grizzly bear at the zoo. Sienna draws both, with the help of her friends, but neither picture seems special enough. In the end, inspired by an early memory, Sienna comes up with her own idea for a drawing that’s perfect for the art show.

The Last Two Crayons looks at the beautiful world of brown, with a heartwarming and empowering ending that celebrates diversity, creativity, and family.

By Leah Freeman-Haskin with illustrations by Shantala Robinson
32 pages
Published by Groundwood Books, 2023
Hardcover
8.5 x 0.75 x 10 inches
Recommended for ages 3-6