Ingenuity and surprise rule in this funny and colorful companion to Red: A Crayon’s Story written and illustrated by Michael Hall, the New York Times –bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo. The crayons are ready to tell the thrilling tale of Frankencrayon . The costumes are made, the roles are cast, the pages are all set—but then disaster strikes. Someone has scribbled on the page! Hideous! Horrifying! The story can’t go on! Try as they might, the crayons can’t erase the scribble, and this picture book must be canceled. Until the crayons playing the title role of Frankencrayon think of a solution, that is. Michael Hall breaks borders and invites readers behind the scenes with his irresistible, clever style and bold artwork. A book about seeing beauty in unexpected places and the magic of storytelling. PreS-Gr 2—A mysterious red scribble marks the beginning of the end for a picture book, and the story of its cancellation and the ensuing fallout is related from the perspective of a pencil and some crayon characters. Hall has had great success with crayons before. In Red: A Crayon's Story (HarperCollins, 2014), he explored self-acceptance and judgment. This time he writes a just-for-fun mash-up of monster movie references and schoolroom shenanigans, while skewering literary conventions. As the narrator takes readers through the lead-up to the cancelled book (never ask a crayon to do the job of an eraser), there are breaks in the proscenium and characters are sent to later parts of the story to wait for their cues. Frankencrayon himself is three crayon stubs put together: green for the head, orange for the midsection, and purple for the bottom. Hall's genius application of crayon drawings and cut-paper collage creates a product that any child could see himself making, and that's how artists and authors are born. VERDICT A monstrously entertaining read.—Lisa Lehmuller, Paul Cuffee Maritime Charter School, Providence, RI “Hall fills his story within a story with intrigue, theater, and a whole lot of silly. …The illustrations are compelling, with cut-paper crayons and a variety of textures and typefaces.” - Kirkus Reviews “A just-for-fun mash-up of monster movie references and schoolroom shenanigans…Hall’s genius application of crayon drawings and cut-paper collage creates a product that any child could see himself making, and that’s how artists and authors are born. A monstrously entertaining read.” - School Library Journal (starred review) “The bright cut-paper crayons hold a running commentary as a humorous Greek chorus, and the scribble’s appearance against both black and white backgrounds adds striking visuals, effectively supporting the ultimate message of inclusion and creative problem solving.” - Booklist “This book’s complex plot-within-a-plot structure provides punchy entertainment to keep readers engaged throughout and offers inspiration for thinking about theater, bookmaking, and storytelling.” - The Horn Book “Perfect for all ages…Hall’s tale elevates Frankencrayon above simple entertainment, beginning with a nod to classic literature and slowly delivering a story within a story, with unexpected turns that will guarantee a laugh…this delightfully creative book, populated by its charming ‘scary guys,’ deserves multiple readings.” - BookPage.com “A lot of fun…it will grab and hold the attention of many little characters who like to play monsters.”” - Boston Globe This picture book has been canceled. Wait. How can we be on the front flap of a canceled book? Good question. Michael Hall grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and lives with his family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He is the creator of numerous acclaimed picture books for children, including Frankencrayon , Red: A Crayon’s Story , My Heart Is Like a Zoo , Perfect Square , and It’s an Orange Aardvark!