Review Detail

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!