Pencil & Eraser: We Have a Dull-Emma!

K-Gr 2–Classroom life has plenty of challenges, and in this goofy graphic novel, this sentiment extends even to the simplest of school supplies: the familiar, unobtrusive pencil and eraser. With a reader-directed rapport that establishes Pencil as a high-energy jokester and Eraser as a practical foil, the heart of the dilemma is quickly revealed—Pencil’s point is dull and she fears being rendered useless to her student-owner Stella. She dons an adventurer’s brown, brimmed hat and enlists Eraser in her quest to seek out a functional sharpener. Will Pencil’s point be restored before Stella returns and finds her gone? It’s not exactly nail-bitingly intense, but the rapport between the pair is intriguing—for every goofy, concerned, sad, or ecstatic expression Pencil makes, Eraser responds with a perpetually neutral, if slightly world-weary, expression. Even when Pencil takes designated “Joke Breaks” in each chapter, Eraser remains, hilariously, unmoved. Nevertheless, their friendship and teamwork persists, encouraging young readers to chuckle and groan their way through this simple and fun story. Alvarado’s illustrations move smoothly between conversational and active moments, colored in pleasant primary hues reminiscent of the aesthetics of elementary education.