Lio by Mark Tatulli for October 12, 2015

Harold was the creation of Crockett Johnson, also known for his 1940s comic strip “Barnaby.” That daily newspaper feature in some ways prefigured the adventures of Calvin and Hobbes in that it featured a little boy and a companion seen only by the child. For Barnaby, it was his Fairy Godfather, the cigar-smoking and pixie-winged Mr. Jackeen J. O’Malley. Worth seeking out in any format you can find. There have been a few collected volumes, though probably only available as collectibles or in second hand book stores today. And it goes without saying that the Harold books are wonderful, still selling to this day.

thankyou. That was necessary.

A new friend for Lio?

A young Paul Williams.

I bet that new kid likes to get high sniffing Sharpies. The shades are to hide his bloodshot eyes from scrutiny….Stay clear and stay with Harold…, Lio!

Harold and the purple crayon was my favorite book as a child. I bought a copy for my children, and it brought back a flood of memories.

I see now.

Kids: just say no to Sharpies! Sharpies—not even once!

I would never knock Crockett Johnson, who was an absolute genius, but it has long annoyed me that “Harold and the Purple Crayon” is remembered while “Peter’s Pencil”, by Paula Hurley Butler is totally forgotten, though it was published two years earlier.

should’ve had sticker on Smelly Sharpie book saying “Soon To Be A Movie”.

I’ll be Sheila eats glue too!

Or maybe takes an occasional sniff…