Hello, friends! Our book today is When Pencil Met Eraser, written by Karen Kilpatrick and Luis O. Ramos, Jr., and illustrated by Germán Blanco.

There once was a pencil who loved to draw. His art was bold, well-shaded, and full of intricate detail. There was also once an eraser; he loved to create art as well, but through the use of negative space. Much to Pencil’s consternation, as he creates dark, brooding, and congested scenes, Eraser hops in to add levity and opportunities for lightness: a view of the sky in a crowded city, a path through a thick meadow of wildflowers, or stars in a forest sky. Pencil is unimpressed by his compatriot’s efforts, preferring to work alone. However, as he challenges Eraser’s creativity in an effort to drive him away, he begins to see the beauty and possibility in their teamwork… and in making a new friend.

Lovely! The story is a simple one that encourages working together and appreciating the talents of others, but there’s also a nice lesson in art and creative use of negative space hidden within. The characters are adorable, particularly Eraser’s unflappable cheerfulness, and the pencil artwork is quite stunning, providing loads of visual interest. The clever twist ending is also a treat, and drives home the importance and value of a diversity of talent when tackling projects. The length is great, and JJ loved the artwork and chipper dialogue. We liked this one a lot – Baby Bookworm approved!

(Note: A copy of this book was provided to The Baby Bookworm by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)