Harold and the Purple Crayon

Why It's On Our Shelf

Harold has agency in the purest sense - he literally draws his own reality. When he needs something, he draws it. When he gets in trouble, he draws a solution. The simplicity of the purple line on white pages puts all the focus on the act of creation. What makes this timeless is that it shows imagination as power - Harold isn't waiting for adventures to happen to him, he's making them happen. The matter-of-fact tone treats Harold's reality-drawing as completely normal, which is how kids approach pretend play. It's existential if you think about it too hard, but kids just enjoy the adventure and the idea that you can draw your way anywhere.