Here’s a simple craft and retelling activity using an empty crayon box to go with the popular children’s book, The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. There’s even a free printable to help you get started! 

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The Preschool Book Club is back this week with creative activities for kids inspired by the popular children’s book, The Day the Crayons Quit. Every other week we’ll be sharing some fun activities for kids based on the book of the week. (Be sure to check out all my activities for kids inspired by children’s books!)

Crayon Box Craft Inspired by The Day the Crayons Quit

If you’ve never read The Day the Crayons Quit, it’s definitely one you’ll want to check out. My kids absolutely love it! In this story a child opens his crayon box only to find his crayons have quit. Each color crayon has left him notes explaining their feelings and complaints as to why they’ve quit. My kids love reading what all the crayons have to say and even come up with ideas as to what their own crayons might be thinking.

Because this book is a great way to encourage focusing on another point of view, I decided to create a project that allows children to illustrate what their own crayons would say if they were to quit just like the ones in the story!

Materials for Crayon Box Craft

• Empty crayon box
• Glue and/or tape
• Scissors
• Black pen (These are my favorite!) or a pencil
• Free printable crayons and word bubbles

*Clip Art by Scrappin Doodles

Making the Crayon Box Craft

1. Start by printing out the free printable sheet which includes crayons and empty word bubbles.

2. Write what you’d like each crayon to say inside a word bubble. You can either have children choose something that was said in the actual book to practice retelling, or let them come up with their own sentences the crayons might say.

3. Cut out each crayon. Lucy even drew faces on hers using a black pen. (You can also have your child draw their own crayons and cut those out if he/she would prefer.)

4. Cut out the word bubbles.

5. Place all your crayons and word bubbles together on the table so they’re ready to be attached to your crayon box.

6. Glue or tape the crayons and word bubbles onto your empty crayon box. That’s it!

You can display it as is, or glue it onto some cardstock to display.

More The Day the Crayons Quit Activities

Be sure to check out all the creative The Day the Crayons Quit activities created by the other members of The Preschool Book Club Series!

Crayon Shaving Sensory Art from Sugar Aunts

Paper Doll Crayons from Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails

The Day the Crayons Quit Writing Activity from Homegrown Friends

The Day the Crayons Quit Follow Up Story from Mama Papa Bubba

Love using children’s books to encourage a love of learning and creating? Be sure to check out our book, Exploring Books Through Play!