Book excerpt: In this engaging biography, readers will learn about the creators of Crayolas, cousins Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith. Follow their story from childhood, their early work at Edwin's father's Peekskill Chemical Works, and the company's evolution into the Binney & Smith Company. Binney and Smith create a wax pencil, slate pencils, and dustless chalk, culminating in the invention of the Crayola. Learn how Crayolas are made, who came up with the name, and about other Binney & Smith Company products. Binney and Smith families, retirements, and community contributions are included. Sidebars, historic photos, and a glossary enhance readers' understanding of this topic. Additional features include a table of contents, an index, a timeline and fun facts. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Checkerboard Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.