Written by Christine Calabrese
Illustrated by Maria Victoria Flores
Published in 2017
Why we chose this book:
Christine Calabrese offered to share this book with us for review and I was intrigued: when I taught first grade, helping children maintain proper pencil grip as their handwriting developed could be challenging. Now that T is making his first attempts at writing the letters in his name, I'm reminded of that and wondering how to help someone with such tiny fingers develop the proper grip.
Mom's Review
A talking pencil feels left behind when the other school supplies are used, but is gratified when someone grips him properly.
Illustrations alternate between drawings of smiling school supplies superimposed on classroom photographs and a drawing of a crying pencil. The rhymes flow smoothly until the final pages, and T was engaged and repeating the pencil refrain with me after a few pages. Many familiar objects are depicted, from play dough to rulers to markers, before the pencil is finally put to use. I had expected a greater focus on the proper pencil grip, and was first surprised that it is mentioned only once at the end. Upon further reflection, however, I think that placing the grip instruction only on the final pages avoids belaboring the point.
The illustrations and text show clearly how to properly hold a pencil for best handwriting results. Overall, I would say that this has great potential for classroom or home instruction - the colors are bright, the supplies have fun names, and it provides children with a friendly reminder of proper grip. And as a side note, the texture of the cover is very nice. I'm not sure what it is, but I like it. It's not quite paper. Almost like rubber. Maybe like a pencil grip?
Son's Review
(age 3 years)
Note: "Guy" is a gender-neutral, species-neutral, life-neutral term that T applies to any toy or drawn figure that acts like a human or animal, from Princess Jasmine to Captain America to dinosaurs to Transformers to emoticon images.
Flipping through the book before reading:
Son: Ah. This a little guy book. Is this a little guy book?
Mom: Yeah. We're gonna read that. Do you like the looks of that?
Son: (pointing to the sad pencil and other items) This is the sad one. And this one's worried. And that one's crying....and happy! It's an expression book!
After reading:
Mom: Was this a sad story or a happy story or a little bit of both?
Son: Sad and happy...because there was a sad pencil.
Mom: And why was it happy?
Son: (pointing to the smiling fingers gripping the smiling pencil) Because these characters help him.
Mom: How could they help him?
Son: They could write with him!
Mom: Now, this book shows you how to hold a pencil in just the right way...
Son picks up crayon, albeit incorrectly: This way!
Mom, helping him adjust: This way...
Son: And then write! (moving crayon like writing)
Mom: What did you like about this book?
Son: This was a face book. . .on pencils and fingers and yeah.
Mom: Does this book show children how to hold something?
Son: A pencil.
Mom: And why might you need to hold a pencil?
Son: For drawing and writing.
Intermission: Son works excitedly and proudly on holding crayon properly.
Mom: Was there anything in the book that you didn't like?
Son: That the pencil was sad.
Mom: And how did you feel at the end?
Son: Happy
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