Pencil’s Best Story Ever

K-Gr 3–Pencil, ungendered, narrates the writing of a story about a friend, Peanut; Pencil carries it around and frequently reads out loud from it. Peanut is the main character in the story within this story, and Pencil wants the plot to go a certain way, but the actions of the others consistently defy the author’s intentions and expectations. When good friend Bear refuses to eat one of the other characters (as per the written story), Pencil decides on entertaining others. Young readers will love this book. It’s silly and fun and turns the teaching-a-lesson trope on its head. Children who have a hard time accepting change and unexpected events will identify with the main character’s personal struggles and subsequent victories. A mix of speech bubbles, signage, lists, and traditional narration keep the story moving briskly. The art offers a nice balance between illustrating the story and providing extra, humor-rich elements. There’s something unexpected on every page.