Publisher's website (University of Akron Press) https://blogs.uakron.edu/uapress/product/color-capital-of-the-world/

I received this ARC through the LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a delightful collection of familial stories integrated impressively with both local history and interesting factoids. I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoys non-fiction, history, local history, or an interesting author's voice. While I was sometimes confused at the twists and turns in each chapter, I was impressed with how the author brought each story together. I enjoyed my time with this book and have recommended it to several others who I think would enjoy it. ( )

As a family historian, I look for stories to share about my own family. I also enjoy reading about the history of other families especially when I learn something interesting. So it was with "Color Capital of the World: Growing up with the Legacy of a Crayon Company". The narrative was part memoir, part family history and also told the history of a business that had its heart in a small town. As with many American small towns, the downtown faded and businesses left. But in recent years work was being done to bring back the vibrancy of the town of Sandusky as it reimagined itself. It was a positive note to end this short but enjoyable read and I now know more about the evolution of crayons as a creative medium.

I received a free copy of the book through the LTER in exchange for my honest opinion.
John W. Kropf wrote a very personal history of the town of Sandusky, Ohio and the American Crayon Company that was in his family for several generations. He writes in detail about the ups and downs of the world of manufacturing and how this all affected the town of Sandusky, where the company was originally headquartered.
I was sometimes a bit confused about who was who and the time-line. Maybe the book could have benefited from some additional editing. Overall, an informative book. ( )

I must admit that I was expecting more of a history of the making of Crayons. The author does describe the development of crayons and chalk in the 19th century and his family's part in this work at the American Crayon Company. As a former art teacher, the story of how crayons came into being and the role that they played in elementary school curriculum is very interesting to me. This book does cover this history but the author also creates a memoir of his family and the town where the factory was built- Sandusky, Ohio. Kropf describes the various industries that helped the town grow and prosper. This is also a story of how manufacturing was developed and later shut down in the town. Kropt's family is very important to him as he relates the stories of great grandparents, grandparents and their role in the company. The selling of the American Crayon Company and the changes that came about demonstrate how the loss of manufacturing altered Sandusky. In fact the descriptions show how vital towns and cities lost an essential element that had made them important to the economic life of the country.

This book pursues several avenues. It is partly a memoir, a family history. It also traces the history of the town of Sandusky, Ohio. And it provides a look into the early days of the crayon industry in the U.S. The author managed to blend all these aspects into a well written, interesting book.

The book traces the coming together on three families who created a crayon company that was so successful, it put the town of Sandusky "on the map" as they say. The families were not only business partners, they were related through marriage and they were friends. The author and his sister grew up with an endless supply of crayons, which sparked their creativity and imagination. I chuckled over young Ann's writing Howard Hughes' will. The author's retracing his grandfather's cross-country road trip was told with poignancy....and humour...as he "drove all the way across the country for a pack of crayons".

I especially enjoyed the parts of the book discussing the making of crayons and of colours and how recipes were modified and perfected over time. And the multiple uses chalk and crayons were employed in.

A well-written interesting book that sparked a sense of nostalgia in me. I learned about crayon making...I like to learn things. Finally, the book made me think about colour and how it influences our perceptions and thoughts. ( )