A boy’s creativity and self-confidence challenge and inspire his teacher.

What do you see outside your window? If you’re like Robert, you’ll see that the sky isn’t always blue. Robert has an artist’s eye and an independent mind who knows what he knows, even when his teacher, Mrs. Murphy, disagrees. She wants Robert to use blue crayon to represent the sky, but Robert knows that the sky is more varied, more vivid, much more beautiful than that.
Children learn many things from their teachers—yet sometimes teachers can learn from students! Robert holds fast to what he knows and believes. And Mrs. Murphy comes to agree that the sky is not just blue. It’s a spectrum of rich and changing colors that remind her of children full of joy and imagination.

The Sky Is Not Blue invites a conversation about individual perspectives and encourages children to trust and express their beliefs.

About the Author:

Joy Jones is a popular speaker, trainer, and the author of several books for adults and children. Her most recent are Fearless Public Speaking, a how-to for teens, and Jayla Jumps In, a novel which received a starred review on Booklist and chosen as one of the best sports books for children by the American Library Association. Her novel in progress, Walking the Boomerang, won the 2022 Pen America/ Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children's and Young Adult Novelists. She works for DC Public Library. 

About the Program:

• Free copies of the book while supplies last.
• Free parking vouchers are available to program attendees who park at the Franklin Street Garage (15 W. Franklin Street) .  Ask Pratt event staff for your parking voucher prior to or after the program.