Review Detail

“Pencil” by Hye-Eun Kim is a picture book that doesn’t contain words, but does include engaging illustrations that tell the story. Those who read the book are taken on a journey through a pencil’s life as it is taken from the tree to a factory to being sold in a store, and then back to its origin in the tree. The artwork in the story was drawn with colored pencils and markers, and it vividly showcases the pencil’s life cycle.

The back matter of the book shares how to read a silent book, from creating a quiet space to rereading, play acting the ideas within the story, asking questions, and reflecting on the story’s themes. The book provides an interesting way of delving into the value of items and how they come to be, no matter how much one might take them for granted.