One morning, the sky wakes up purple—and it is quite upset.

“Oh dear! Oh no! I don’t know what to do. I’m not supposed to be purple. I’m supposed to be blue.”

Determined to find an answer, the sky tries one colorful idea after another. With every attempt, the sky expects to turn blue—but something entirely unexpected happens instead! Young readers will delight in guessing which color comes next and joining in the sky’s irresistible refrain as it journeys through vibrant colors and some very big feelings.

With rhythmic repetition, vivid illustrations, and plenty of opportunities to participate, The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple is an engaging read-aloud picture book that encourages young children to be curious, keep trying, and discover that an unexpected result simply means it’s time to try something new.

Along the way, children can explore color concepts, identify changing emotions, practice prediction, and discover the value of problem solving, self-trust, perseverance, resilience, and kindness.

Originally created by Susan Star Light Neumer as an interactive oral story to entertain her daughters during long car rides, the tale became a beloved family tradition that was later shared with Susan’s grandchildren. Her daughters, Lauren Neumer Whitehurst and Alison Neumer Lara, have now reimagined their mother’s story as a picture book, beautifully and colorfully illustrated by artist Helen Haggerty.

Ideal for families, read-aloud settings in preschool classrooms or libraries, and professionals including counselors, therapists, and child psychologists, The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple turns colors and big feelings into a playful journey of discovery—and reminds young children that when one idea doesn’t work, they can always try again.

Readers of all ages who enjoyed The Color Monster, The Day the Crayons Quit, and The Dot will appreciate The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple’s social-emotional learning values, opportunities for family discussions about naming feelings, and the creative inspiration of the artwork, all wrapped up in moments of discovery, wonder, and hope.

***Here’s What Professionals Say About The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple***

“For every person who has woken up not feeling quite like themselves, and for every parent, teacher, or educator seeking to nurture a child’s heart and mind, The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple offers both comfort and hope. Through whimsical poetry and vivid imagery, the story reminds us that joy is often found not in what we receive, but in what we give—and that a heart turned outward has the power to make even the darkest skies blue again.”

—Dan Kimberg, Director, North Carolina Community Schools Coalition

“The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple encourages children to ask, ‘What do you do when you don’t feel quite like yourself?’ The book gently teaches young readers that with curiosity, resilience, and a sense of adventure, they can find what restores them.” 

—Dr. Katie O’Connell, PhD, LP, child clinical psychologist, author

“A rare and luminous book, The Day the Sky Woke Up Purple gently reminds us that we are all a beautiful spectrum of emotions, experiences, and possibilities. With breathtaking illustrations and a timeless message of self-trust, perseverance, and belonging, it invites children and the adults who love them to see the world and themselves with greater wonder, compassion, and courage. This reimagined oral family story lingers in the heart long after the final page.”

—Sara Jane Harris, M.A. in children’s theater, former K-8 drama teacher, certified expressive arts facilitator