‘Crayon Kids’ Float Makes Colorful Point Like People, They Come In Many Hues

The living room looked pretty normal, except in one corner. That’s where the neon mountain range erupted in rows of bright, pointed peaks.

They were cones, bigger even than the traffic type, in orange and black and green and yellow. On Friday, they’ll be hats for 19 children riding in or walking alongside the “Crayon Kids” float. Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations volunteers have been planning the spectacle for a month.

But Wednesday, the makings of the July Fourth American Heroes Parade entry still were strewn all over Judy Hyatt’s home and garage.

The idea is cute, simple and important: Crayons come in many colors, and so do people. The float will be a giant wooden crayon box, and the kids will ride inside.

“It’s ‘Celebrate a Community Committed to Human Rights,”’ Hyatt said, echoing the task force slogan.

This week, a total of 50 volunteers helped get ready. On Wednesday, a handful of folks stuffed 5,000 (real) crayons into plastic bags. They’ll be given away at the parade, along with human rights fliers and copies of pictures drawn by local kids.

The eight pictures chosen all drive home human-rights themes: They’re crayon kids, or a man in a wheelchair, or flowers - each with the face of a different race.

“I planned to choose one drawing but I just couldn’t pick,” said Hyatt, a Canfield Middle School teacher.

Adults pitched in, too. Fred Meyer donated the 4,000 plastic bags. United Paint donated the colors used to paint the float to Crayola-esque completion.

“The thing that’s helped us through the years is that we’ve gotten a lot of support from business,” said North Idaho College’s Tony Stewart.

Kaylee Cruse was getting ready, for the parade, but those hats sure were big. The 4-year-old tried a yellow model on for size, and it slid down over her eyes.

She was quiet for second - then let out a wee squeak.

OK, Hyatt said. We’ll try another one.

Task force volunteers hope the simple lesson of the crayon box will make a mark more lasting than anything made from wax.

“We’ve always felt the future of human rights is through children,” Stewart said.

“And,” volunteer Theresa Potts piped, “it’s such an easy lesson.” , DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo