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The Pencil
"Clever and suspenseful, a surefire delight." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Once a pencil draws a little boy, there's no telling what will come next -- a dog, a cat, a chase (of course), and a paintbrush to color in an ever-expanding group of family and friends. But it's not long before the complaints begin -- "This hat looks silly!" "My ears are too big!" -- until the poor pencil has no choice but to draw . . . an eraser. Oh, no! In the hands of Allan Ahlberg and Bruce Ingman, creators of The Runaway Dinner and Previously, can anything but havoc and hilarity ensue?
Book Details
- Publisher: Candlewick Press (MA)
- Publish Date: Oct 9th, 2012
- Pages: 48
- Language: English
- Edition: undefined - undefined
- Dimensions: 10.50in - 9.50in - 0.30in - 0.60lb
- EAN: 9780763660888
- Recommended age: 04-08
- Categories: • Art• Fantasy - General• Humorous Stories
About the Author
Allan Ahlberg (1938-2025) is the acclaimed author of many books for children, including Under the Table, Previously, and The Pencil, all illustrated by Bruce Ingman. In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called The Pencil "clever and suspenseful . . . a surefire delight." His best-known series, The Jolly Postman and its sequels, has sold millions of copies worldwide. Bruce Ingman is the award-winning illustrator of Previously and The Runaway Dinner, as well as Boing! by Sean Taylor. He lives in London.
Praise for this book
Clever and suspenseful...surefire delight.
--Publishers Weekly (starred review) There are deep resonances here of world creation myths and the power of artistic expression... free-wheeling faux-childlike illustrations ... a thought-provoking model of conflict resolution. But really, this wry, madcap, loving story is for everyone who thinks that of course a boiled egg should be called Billy or who wants to hear the tale repeatedly so as to shout "OUT!" louder each time.
--The Horn Book (starred review) Inspire some creative world-building in budding artists.
--Kirkus Reviews Ahlberg's matter-of-fact, curiously specific storytelling has a weirdly appealing blend of absurdity and homey charm.
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The Pencil is wildly inventive, deliciously high-concept and simmering with dramatic tension. (Who could have imagined sweat beads flying off a nervous pencil would be so believable?)
--San Francisco Chronicle online Both clever and suspenseful, this surefire delight tells the story of a pencil who must deal with the consequences of his inventions...The book's comical unexpected plot and wry narrator keep the story fresh throughout.
--San Francisco Examiner A definite winner from the team that created The Runaway Dinner. The combination of humorous text, quirky drawn out writing style, and clever illustrations all point to another runaway hit!
--For Immediate Release Reviews...Kids Ahlberg's playful, abundant imagination is made visible in Ingman's wryly personified illustrations.
--The Star.com ALL of the characters in this book get names -- even the ants. And it's a GEM of a read-aloud!
--Shelftalker (PW blog)
--Publishers Weekly (starred review) There are deep resonances here of world creation myths and the power of artistic expression... free-wheeling faux-childlike illustrations ... a thought-provoking model of conflict resolution. But really, this wry, madcap, loving story is for everyone who thinks that of course a boiled egg should be called Billy or who wants to hear the tale repeatedly so as to shout "OUT!" louder each time.
--The Horn Book (starred review) Inspire some creative world-building in budding artists.
--Kirkus Reviews Ahlberg's matter-of-fact, curiously specific storytelling has a weirdly appealing blend of absurdity and homey charm.
--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The Pencil is wildly inventive, deliciously high-concept and simmering with dramatic tension. (Who could have imagined sweat beads flying off a nervous pencil would be so believable?)
--San Francisco Chronicle online Both clever and suspenseful, this surefire delight tells the story of a pencil who must deal with the consequences of his inventions...The book's comical unexpected plot and wry narrator keep the story fresh throughout.
--San Francisco Examiner A definite winner from the team that created The Runaway Dinner. The combination of humorous text, quirky drawn out writing style, and clever illustrations all point to another runaway hit!
--For Immediate Release Reviews...Kids Ahlberg's playful, abundant imagination is made visible in Ingman's wryly personified illustrations.
--The Star.com ALL of the characters in this book get names -- even the ants. And it's a GEM of a read-aloud!
--Shelftalker (PW blog)