The Pencil (English)

by Susan Avingaq (Author) Charlene Chua (Illustrator)

The Pencil (English)
Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade

2020 USBBY OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL BOOK

"[A] wonderful and touching story" -- New York Time Book Review

"A breath of warmth from the far north"-- Kirkus Reviews

Susan and her sister, Rebecca, love watching their mother write letters to people in other camps. Their mother has one precious pencil, and she keeps it safe in her box for special things.

One afternoon, their mother leaves the iglu to help a neighbour, and Susan, Rebecca, and their brother Peter are left with their father. They play all their regular games but are soon out of things to do--until their father brings out the pencil! As Susan draws and draws, the pencil grows shorter and shorter. What will their mother think when she comes home?

Based on author Susan Avingaq's childhood memories of growing up in an iglu, this charming story introduces young readers to the idea of using things wisely.

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$16.95

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Kirkus

A breath of warmth from the far north.

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2--An Inuit elder shares a memory of her childhood in this appealing picture book. One day, when Anaana (mother) has to help deliver a neighbor's baby, children Susan, Rebecca, and Peter must entertain themselves. Ataata (father) tells stories, they play games, and they practice writing on the icy window. Then Ataata surprises them by bringing out one of Anaana's prized possessions--a tiny, well-worn pencil, used for writing letters on bags, wrappers, and sometimes, on precious pieces of paper. He encourages them to write and draw, offering up a single sheet of unmarked paper. All day, Susan and her siblings marvel as their drawings materialize on the page. When Anaana returns, her initial hesitation at seeing the pencil smaller than before is tempered by the joy her children have in sharing their drawings with her. While she reminds them all how important it is to use the few resources that they have wisely, she also affirms the value of what they created. Avingaq's memories of an affectionate, close-knit family are perfectly captured by Chua's expressive cartoon illustrations. VERDICT A family-focused story with a light moral that lovingly illuminates a lifestyle rarely seen in children's books. A solid purchase for larger collections.--Chelsea Couillard-Smith, Hennepin County Library, MN

Copyright 2019 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

The Pencil is an incredible look into a life not many people get to see or experience. While the setting of the igloo and the Inuit customs set the story apart and elevate it to something unique, the experience of children being bored, eager to explore their surroundings and especially the things that are ''forbidden" to them is very much universal. The fact that the story is based on the author's own experiences grounds it and pulls the reader right into the cozy home, making it easy to imagine the sounds, smells and sights of that one afternoon. The illustrations are beautiful, a limited color palette only serving to accentuate the sketch-like quality of the lines that seem to have been drawn by the same pencil that is at the center of the story. A wonderful message about using resources wisely while not letting go of your imagination, The Pencil is a must-read for kids and adults alike. Highly Recommended
Classification
-
ISBN-13
9781772272161
Lexile Measure
-
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Inhabit Media
Publication date
September 20, 2019
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV039090 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | New Experience
JUV003000 - Juvenile Fiction | Art & Architecture
JUV013000 - Juvenile Fiction | Family | General
JUV030120 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Polar Regions
JUV030090 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | Canada - Native Canadian
Library of Congress categories
Fiction
Picture books
Juvenile works
Drawing

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