Caramel reviews Harold at the North Pole by Crockett Johnson

Many years ago, in the very early days of this blog Caramel reviewed a classic, Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson. Today he is talking to Sprinkles about a sequel of sorts, Harold at the North Pole, published originally in 1957.

Sprinkles: I was so excited to find this little book last week! So even though it is a Christmas book and we are nowhere close to Christmas, I thought it would be fun to talk about it today. 

Caramel: Yup. And I agreed. Because who doesn’t want to talk about Santa Claus and snow and Christmas gifts? 

S: I know, right? I mean we just couldn’t wait till December.. Anyways, our readers probably remember Harold, the little boy in blue overalls who creates the world around him with his ginormous purple crayon. 

C: Yeah, I would expect so. You and I talked about Harold and the Purple Crayon all the way back in 2020, so if they don’t remember, they can just read our old post. 

S: Yep. That was right around the time the pandemic really took off!

C: Yeah, the pandemic was around that time, which was pretty terrible. But the book was really good. And later, we also saw the live-action movie, which was actually pretty good.

S: Yeah, I remember watching it with you and liking it. It seems like the critics didn’t like it much, but we enjoyed it. 

C: Yup, we did. Maybe you can put a link to the trailer in the post?

S: Sure. Here is the trailer of the movie:

C: Thanks. It was fun to watch. 

S: So let us get back to Harold at the North Pole. 

C: Sure. So this is about Harold, the very same little boy, But in the cover this time he is wearing green overalls, and a red hat. Very Christmas-y! 

S: Yeah, he is not in his blue overalls any more, but you are right, the red-green fits the holiday season very well. And the crayon is still purple, right?

C: Yup. So this time, Harold wants to find a Christmas tree before Santa can visit his home. So he goes out and tries to find a tree. Along the way he finds himself at the North Pole and ends up helping Santa. He also helps draw up Santa’s reindeer and a sleigh full of presents. And finally he gets back home and settles down near a fireplace to wait for Santa.

S: Yep. That sounds about right. 

C: Actually I think it kind of sounds a bit eerie. The boy is always alone, and there is nobody and nothing around him until he draws them. It is almost like a scary dream. 

S: Wait, if you read it like that, then it does not come across like a cute, warm, and fuzzy story. 

C: No, it doesn’t. And when you look back at the first book, that also could be the same, with Harold all alone, making stuff up as he goes around living all alone. Abandoned.  

S: Hmm, yes, I can see that. But it is not really the real world that he is in, is it? He is not all alone in a scary way really. I think maybe we are in Harold’s imaginary world, as he is recreating the world. The transitions from home, to the northern woods, to the North Pole, back home would be dizzying if real. But they are not. Harold just flows smoothly from one place to the other, as smoothly as he can draw something. 

C: Or actually he does not flow anywhere and the places just smoothly flow around him as he draws them. Yes, I know, it is not really about a little child all alone in a scary way, but I just wanted to say it would be kind of weird if this were real.

S: I guess that is why the movie version made the situation so weird. Nobody would believe the grown-up Harold. 

C: I wouldn’t. But you know, if the crayon were real, it would be really cool! And dangerous! All those bad people who were after the crayon in the movie, it totally makes sense, because the crayon is so powerful if you can create reality all by drawing something.  

S: Yes. 

C: So okay, the books are really sweet, they are not scary at all. I just wanted to say they are also a bit weird, but when read in their own story world, they are really sweet. And I think any little bunny would enjoy imagining themselves with a purple crayon and trying to figure out what they would draw with it and going into adventures with it and so on. 

S: Yeah, for sure. So what would you draw with it if you had the purple crayon?

C: I would draw the seventeenth book of Wings of Fire; lock in Sutherland! 

S: Not sure it works that way, Caramel… 

C: Dang it. Still, lock in Sutherland, I love those books, come out with more, please.

S: Okay, maybe she will some day. She has to go forth with the new story arc she started in the sixteenth book anyways. But so you wouldn’t draw anything else? I could draw an ice cream machine that makes ice cream for me, a bubble bath, a beautiful sunset, a comfy big chair, and lots of books and bookshelves around it where I could read.. I can go on forever! 

C: Well, Sprinkles, we do have lots of books and bookshelves in our house, and there is a comfy chair nearby too.

S: Yes, I know we are lucky. And maybe the things Harold draws are also kind of homelike, like a fireplace, and an armchair to sit on, and his home is also a regular home, just comfy. 

C: Like our home. Our home is comfy too. 

S: True… Okay, so overall what did you think of this book? 

C: It is cute. It would even make sense to a young person who has not read the original book, but if the young person liked that first book, they would definitely enjoy reading this around the holidays. It would make a good Christmas gift.

S: Yeah, it is kind of surreal, but young bunnies can get into surreal stories very quickly. 

C: Yeah, just ignore the probable psychological implications of why Harold has no parents, friends or any other people near him. Then it makes perfect sense.

S: You’re kidding, right? No young person would be worried reading this. Many picture books about young people don’t have other actors in them. 

C: Of course, yeah, it’s not scary, it’s a nice story. It is just that parents should probably be ready if their young bunny asks them these kinds of questions. It is about fun and imagination and not abandonment. Just in case, ya know.

S: Hmm, I think you have an overactive imagination sometimes Caramel.

C: Sometimes? I am offended. I have a perfectly normal imagination. And always. 

S: Okay, sorry, didn’t mean it that way. You do have a big imagination. 

C: The book is about Harold going north to find a Christmas tree, and then he finds himself at the north pole, and then he draws Santa and the whole Santa workshop, and then helps him make presents, then goes home, and realizes he forgot to find a tree, so he makes one. I think Crockett Johnson has an overactive imagination.

S: Yes I definitely agree. And it all makes the book suitably fun for the holidays. Which are about seven months away… 

C: But it is never too early to dream of Christmas! 

S: And it is actually time for some dreams. Bedtime, Caramel?

C: Yup. I think it is right about my bedtime. 

S: So then let us wrap this up. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!