Pencil - by Hye-Eun Kim (Hardcover)

About the Book

"This wordless picture book follows a pencil from its origins as a tree in a forest to a factory, an art supply store, and the imagination of a young artist who uses it to draw a story."--

Book Synopsis

New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book
A Kirkus Best Book
A BookPage Best Book
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
A Bank Street Best Book

What is a pencil? A forest transformed. In this beautifully illustrated wordless picture book, young readers can follow a pencil's life cycle from tree to factory to store shelf and back to tree.

Even the simplest tool contains multitudes. Once a living tree, then a manufactured commodity, a pencil in the hands of a young artist becomes the key to a rich imaginative world. In this expansive, gorgeously illustrated story, creator Hye-Yun Kim asks us to see and appreciate the full value--and infinite possibilities--of the pencil, as well as other seemingly mundane objects around us. This powerful aid teaches readers essential visual literacy skills and celebrates the creative process.

Review Quotes

A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Book

★ "Impeccably told... an enchanting tribute to the creative process and a celebration of patience and the natural world. A stunning ode to the natural world and the cyclical nature of imagination."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "This wordless picture book speaks volumes about conservation and the transformative power of art. Self-referential colored pencil illustrations follow the journey of a pencil from tree to pencil to tree again in the hands of an imaginative artist. As colorful trees are cut down, the animals who call them home are forced to flee; a girl's care and effort creates a haven for them once more, silently encouraging a more thoughtful approach to consumerism and the environment."--Foreword Reviews, starred review

"(An) exquisitely drawn wordless story... this spare, elegant narrative tells a larger story about the destruction of natural resources, seeding hope that the next generation will restore them."--Publishers Weekly

"A unique, elegant wordless book that portrays the transformation of trees into pencils. The artwork--rendered in colored pencil, of course--is remarkably intricate. Virtually every color is employed in a way that feels vibrant and harmonious... (a) fascinating ­contribution to the pantheon of informational wordless books." --School Library Journal

"This wordless picture book creatively and thoughtfully explores the life cycle of a pencil from tree to drawing implement... The story poses meaningful questions about the origins of everyday objects and the sacrifices they require to produce, but the creative visual exploration leaves room for delight and inspiration as well."--The Horn Book

"Debut author-illustrator Hye-Eun Kim wordlessly--and beautifully--conveys to readers all the possibilities that a pencil can signify... Kim artfully blends the fanciful and the practical as she invites readers to ponder cycles of destruction and renewal, creativity and inspiration. Her focus on a pencil's life cycle--its origins, transformation and return to something akin to its original form--casts an everyday object in an interesting new light while prompting reflection on what can happen when nature is not nurtured." -New York Weekly Times

"A picture book that doesn't contain words, but does include engaging illustrations that tell the story... 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." -YA Books Central

"This stunning wordless story follows colored pencil shavings that become leaves, a forest, and finally a resplendent world of wonder; then the forest is cut down, taken to the factory, and made into colored pencils... this wordless story is a true tribute to the flow of our imagination and the cycles of nature, sure to inspire readers toward their own art-making and reflective thought."--ACL Bayviews,"Outstanding" designation

About the Author

Hye-Eun Kim was born in South Korea. She began her career as a graphic designer and currently works as a freelance illustrator, usually working in portraits and fashion design.