Linus The Little Yellow Pencil

This book is about an adorable and creative pencil named Linus and a curmudgeonly eraser called Ernie. They want to enter an art contest, but every line Linus draws Ernie rubs out! Ernie thinks Linus can’t draw and they should drop out of the competition. This makes Linus sad— and Ernie too! They take a trip through Unsurewood Forest. At the end of the trip, Linus’s lead breaks! He goes inside a cave that looks oddly like a pencil sharpener. Inside, he meets Smudge. Smudge inspires Linus to keep trying. Linus and Ernie come up with new and creative ways to draw together!

This book is really heartwarming and full of puns, which I LOVE. It is a picture book, and it’s about pictures, which is very meta. I think this book would be good for kids and adults struggling from a creative block. I can see this book being read for a library storytime. My favorite picture is of Linus and Ernie first trying new art styles and drawing a bear fishing for salmon. I personally think Smudge shouldn’t have inspired Linus and Ernie. I think it would have brought them closer together if they inspired themselves. I would definitely read more books by the author.