Pencil & Eraser: We Have a Dull-Emma!

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Author(s)

Jenny Alvarado

Publisher

G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

September 10, 2024

ISBN

978-0593699768

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Fans of Narwhal and Jelly & Pizza and Taco, prepare to meet your new favorite duo! This hilarious new early-reader graphic novel series follows the adventures of two best friend school supplies: Pencil and Eraser!

Pencil is a joyous adventure seeker and Eraser is a cautious curmudgeon. And when their human person Stella isn’t watching, these two unlikely friends go on all sorts of adventures!

It's the start of a new school year, and Pencil and Eraser are ready for anything. Except when Pencil notices her point has dulled. That's never happened before and she feels...pointless. Stella can't write with a dull pencil. So what can Pencil do?

The only answer is to leave the comfort of their desk behind and venture out to find a sharpener. But if Pencil is going on an adventure, she'll need to bring her (reluctant) bestie Eraser along for the ride. Together they'll have to traverse the classroom, scale a mountain-sized desk, enter uncharted territory of the school hallway, and avoid being caught by the janitor. Can Pencil and Eraser manage all that before Stella and her classmates return from recess?

Editor review

1 review

fantastic and fun graphic novel for early independent readers

September 21, 2024

Overall rating

5.0

Plot

5.0

Characters

5.0

Writing Style

5.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

5.0

WE HAVE A DULL-EMMA is a charming graphic novel about perseverance and friendship. Pencil and Eraser are friends, and as they introduce themselves to the reader, Eraser notes that Pencil has gotten dull. Eager to be sharp before Stella comes back from recess, Pencil sets out on a quest to the sharpener, bringing a reluctant Eraser along. Their journey is complicated when the classroom pencil sharpener is broken, but luckily, Pencil will not be deterred. Will they make it back in time before the end of recess?

What I loved: This was a straight-forward and colorful graphic novel with characters that were easy to love and a simple story that was easy to follow. This is a fantastic pick for early independent readers due to the simple language, heavy use of illustrations, and comedic plot. Pencil and Eraser are a sunshine/grumpy pair, and their interactions infused the story with a lot of humor. Adding to that, there were some clever punny jokes interspersed in the story as well.

Plans and intentions go awry throughout, making this quite a quick and clever read. Children will appreciate the comedy and the juxtapositions of the two characters and their personalities that shine from every page. The backmatter includes how-to drawings of the characters so that children who are inspired can create their own stories.

The format was great. Words were large and well-spaced out, making pages turn quickly and helping young readers gain confidence. The story is also broken into a few chapters to help with places to stop and pick it up again as needed. The dialogue was easily attributable with a story that was simple to follow, even when read slowly. As such, this is a fantastic pick for early independent readers.

Final verdict: WE HAVE A DULL-EMMA is a clever and humorous graphic novel about friendship, problem-solving, and reaching for your goals with a format that is perfect for young independent readers. Highly recommend for young elementary school aged children!