Introducing the latest addition to the Creepy Tales Series, and the newest Creepster to haunt our buddy Jasper Rabbit ~ featured in the MaiStoryBook Library Collection:

“Creepy Crayon!” by Aaron Reynolds & Peter Brown

*~Click here to purchase your own copy of “Creepy Crayon” to start on your own reading adventure! ~*

Book Synopsis/ Review

After being haunted by Creepy Carrots and Creepy Underwear, Jasper Rabbit is back and ready to start the new school year! Unfortunately, Jasper prefers playing games to studying so the school year isn’t off to the best start. But, all his luck suddenly changes when Jasper discovers a mysterious Purple Crayon, that seems *Happy to see him.* With Purple Crayon, Jasper begins acing all of his tests, even without studying. He quickly becomes the Most-Improved student ~ but what’s creepy, is that Purple Crayon insists on helping, even when Jasper doesn’t want it’s help… And no matter what Jasper tries, this Purple Crayon just isn’t going away…

As with the other books in the Creepy Tales series, Creepy Crayon! is the perfect balance between humor and spook! Littles will be giggling at the bizarre scenarios with Purple Crayon, while slightly *Creeped Out* with Purple Crayon’s refusal to be controlled. I also appreciate the underlying message of taking pride in your own work, and not taking credit for someone else’s. Jasper Rabbit could have happily let Purple Crayon do all of his work for him and coast through school, but he was more excited about earning a C on a test that he studied for on his own, than acing all of his exams with the help of a Creepy Crayon! This can lead to a great discussion with littles about strategies that help them learn and do their own best work.

Vocabulary

• struggling (p. 2) Having a hard time
• peculiar (p. 11) very strange
• shuddered (p. 16) when your body shakes a little, usually because you are scared
• darting (p. 34) moving quickly
• glorious (p. 35) super wonderful!

Themes/ Main Idea

• Take pride in doing your own best work. Don’t take credit for what others do.
• People learn in different ways. Find what studying and learning strategies work best for you.

YouTube Video: Guided Shared-Reading Read Aloud Example

Example of a shared-reading, interactive Read Aloud of “Creepy Crayon!” – how to subtly introduce the vocabulary list words within the text, ask guided questions, and spark conversation!

Subscribe: MaiStoryBook Youtube Channel for more *interactive* read aloud videos!

*I Don’t Need a Creepy Crayon: How I Learn Best* Backpack Craft

As the new school year begins, little learners can feel the pressure of doing well, getting good grades, and scoring well on tests. *Creepy Crayon!* is an entertaining and fun way to remind littles that we all learn in different ways, to avoid cheating, and to take pride in doing our own best work. One way to help boost littles’ confidence in their own work, is to help them discover what studying and learning strategies work best for them. Brainstorm as a class different ways to study and learn, and then have learners choose which strategies resonate most with them. Then, use the Craft Template Below for students to record the strategies they chose. They can use the craft as a reminder to try out and use the different learning strategies throughout the school year~ and to remind them that they don’t need a Creepy Crayon to do the work for them! They have the capability to succeed on their own!

Materials

• How I Learn Best: Creepy Crayon Backpack Downloadable Craft Template
• Scissors,
• Tape/ Glue
• Colors: Markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
• Pen/ Pencil

Directions

• Choose Your Cover Template: Black & White or Color Templates
• There are 2 different Heading Versions: : ” _____ + Crayon 4ever” or “How ______ Learns Best”
• Print and Color if you chose Black and White.
• Write your name in the rectangle blank to personalize the craft.
• •Cut out the Cover Template. *KEEP THE RECTANGLE TAB ON* (you will need it to connect the craft)

• Next, Choose a Response Template. There are 9 Differentiated options and one blank. (10 versions altogether)
• The Response Template requires students to share different ways they learn best. Brainstorm ideas as a class, and then students can choose from the list on the board.
• Or Check out Version 9, where there are cut-and-paste example options students can choose from to glue onto their Response Template
• Differentiated templates include different variations of written and/or picture responses to share how students learn best.
• Cut out the backpack Response Template.

• To attach the Cover Template to the Backpack Response Template, glue the Cover Flap over the Response section to create a complete Backpack.
• Put glue in the Gray strip at the bottom of the Response Template where it says “glue”
• Then Glue the bottom edge of Cover flap onto the template, lining up the edges to match.
• OPTIONAL: Cut on the dotted line at the top of the response template (near the zipper line). Use the opening to Slide the Rectangle tab into the slit so that the Cover Flap stays up when the craft is displayed vertically (If you wish to skip this step, you can CUT OFF the rectangle tab on the Cover Template)
• See the Video Preview on the original TPT listing to view how the craft comes together.
• Flip down the Backpack cover flap to reveal the Creepy Crayon and your responses.

Enjoy Your *How I Learn Best: Creepy Crayon Backpack* Craft

• Use the craft to remind yourself of how you learn best, and use one of the ideas to help you do your best work. You don’t need to rely on a creepy crayon!
• Share your craft with friends and family and ask them how they learn best.
• Display the crafts for a festive display, and to remind students of all the ways and strategies they can use to do their best work.

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*~ I hope you are enjoying plenty of reading adventures this year, Mai Friends! Tag me on Instagram @MaiStoryBookLibrary or FaceBook , find me on TikTok, or contact me via email to share your own *Creepy Crayon Backpack* Crafts and your own reading adventures! I’d love to hear about what you’re reading and learning!~*

Enjoy More Fall Read Aloud Videos Here!

*~Until next time, Happy Reading~*

 *This post contains affiliate links, meaning a small percentage of your purchases will go to MaiStoryBook to help create Reading Resources for your littles*