Draw Your Dreams

TFK Kid Reporter Ben Stern saw Harold and the Purple Crayon, which opens in theaters on August 2. Read his thoughts below.

Imagine having a magic purple crayon that can bring your imagination to life. That’s exactly what happens in the movie Harold and the Purple Crayon, originally a children’s book by Crockett Johnson.

In the book, Harold is a kid who uses his crayon to draw a fantasy world. If he draws the moon, it shines just like the real thing. If he draws a hot-air balloon, he can float away. In the movie, Harold is a grown-up character in a book who uses the crayon to enter the real world.

Joined by his friends Moose and Porcupine, Harold gets help from a kind family. He returns their kindness by drawing things that make them happy. He also shares his magical powers with a boy named Mel. Mel finds Harold’s purple crayon helpful as he faces tragedy.

Of course, the crayon eventually falls into the wrong hands. Harold worries about its being used for evil. He loses faith in his ability to make people happy with his drawings. Luckily, friendship and imagination show him and his friends that anything is possible.

Harold and the Purple Crayon is funny and exciting. Readers of the book will really enjoy seeing the characters come to life on the big screen. It’s perfect for a family movie night and for anyone who enjoys fantasy. It might inspire you to, as Harold says, “Make your life what you want it to be. Use your imagination.”