The Last Two ­Crayons

PreS-Gr 2–Freeman-Haskin debuts with this story of Sienna, a Black child who is left to draw for an upcoming art show with the only crayons available to her, two different shades of brown. Andy, a white boy with yellow hair and blue eyes, teases her about the ugly things she’ll have to draw, but others in the class—which features children of a variety of ethnicities and abilities—are more positive, leading to a chocolate waffle cone drawing and a scene of a bear in a tree. Sienna’s entry into the art show, though, is a loving portrait of her family. The writing is straightforward and never belabors the emotional dynamics that already exist in the classroom, including Andy’s casual and unchecked bullying and then his offer of a green crayon later. It’s right out of real life, and Sienna’s final drawing evolves naturally in Robinson’s wonderful scenes. The characters are engaged in their work, drawing readers toward the inner and outer tussles, and delivering, just in time, a very happy ending.