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More About the Author
Product Description
Book Description
When a pencil draws a rubber, a battle of wits ensues!
About the Author
Allan Ahlberg always dreamed of being a writer, but tried his hand at many other jobs before he achieved his ambition. It was teaching that gave him such sharp insights into the minds of children. Allan has won numerous awards for his books including the Kurt Maschler Award in 1986, the Children's Book Award in 1987, the Blue Peter Book Award 2001 and the Children's Book Award: Books for Young Children 2002.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a fantastic picture book in which a lonely pencil begins to draw, draws several characters (a boy, Banjo, a dog and a cat all of whom you might recognise from The Runaway Dinner) and a town. Up until this point, the illustrations are black and white as if drawn only by a heavy pencil. The pencil then draws a paintbrush and from here on the illustrations then include bold bright colours.
The pencil, fulfilling the requests of the characters he has created, works with the paintbrush to fill out the whole town, but trouble begins to brew when some of the drawings have not come out quite perfect - ears too big, ridiculous trainers etc. So the pencil draws a rubber which sets to work correcting things. At first, the rubber is helpful but he becomes increasingly naughty, with wholesale deletion of people, scenes and even the paintbrush until all that is left is the rubber and the pencil....
If you are 4, it's worrying for a few pages as the pencil tries to escape, trying various ways to evade the destructive eraser. Fortunately, he then comes up with a clever plan, the world is restored and there's a heart-warming ending.
The pictures are warm, friendly and fun. They are bursting with life and energy throughout, and have a slightly unfinished feel which is particularly in keeping with the narrative. There's also light humour in both the words and the pictures - for example, my son (4) laughs when the chair is erased from underneath Banjo, and welove little ant Allan.
This is not the first picture book I have come across where a pencil's activities are integral to the story (other great ones include Piggot: Gregory and the Magic Line and Browne: Bear Hunt) but it is an inspired and amusing take on this good premise and I thoroughly recommend it. I think this the third book that Ahlberg and Ingman have collaborated on, and the best in my opinion. Buy this first, and when you love it, come back for The Runaway Dinner.
The pencil, fulfilling the requests of the characters he has created, works with the paintbrush to fill out the whole town, but trouble begins to brew when some of the drawings have not come out quite perfect - ears too big, ridiculous trainers etc. So the pencil draws a rubber which sets to work correcting things. At first, the rubber is helpful but he becomes increasingly naughty, with wholesale deletion of people, scenes and even the paintbrush until all that is left is the rubber and the pencil....
If you are 4, it's worrying for a few pages as the pencil tries to escape, trying various ways to evade the destructive eraser. Fortunately, he then comes up with a clever plan, the world is restored and there's a heart-warming ending.
The pictures are warm, friendly and fun. They are bursting with life and energy throughout, and have a slightly unfinished feel which is particularly in keeping with the narrative. There's also light humour in both the words and the pictures - for example, my son (4) laughs when the chair is erased from underneath Banjo, and welove little ant Allan.
This is not the first picture book I have come across where a pencil's activities are integral to the story (other great ones include Piggot: Gregory and the Magic Line and Browne: Bear Hunt) but it is an inspired and amusing take on this good premise and I thoroughly recommend it. I think this the third book that Ahlberg and Ingman have collaborated on, and the best in my opinion. Buy this first, and when you love it, come back for The Runaway Dinner.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This book is a gem! It's the story of a lonely pencil who draws people and animals to keep him company, giving them each names. All is lovely until he creates an over-excited rubber to remove a mistake. The rubber starts to rub out the whole of the pencil's creation....What can the pencil do to stop it but create ANOTHER rubber so the two erase eachother, leaving the pencil to recreate his world around him.
My summary does NOT do the story or lovely illustrations the justice they deserve! This book would be delightful shared with your own children but would make a suberb stimulus book for a literacy (or even philosphy/RE) lesson. What would children do if they could create anything? What happens when what we create turns against us. The story may be about a pencil, but the potential for developing thoughts and ideas is immense.
Superb. I can't recommend it highly enough!!!!
My summary does NOT do the story or lovely illustrations the justice they deserve! This book would be delightful shared with your own children but would make a suberb stimulus book for a literacy (or even philosphy/RE) lesson. What would children do if they could create anything? What happens when what we create turns against us. The story may be about a pencil, but the potential for developing thoughts and ideas is immense.
Superb. I can't recommend it highly enough!!!!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is an original book with a simple concept which appeals to children from 3-7. The storyline is sequential and appeals to children's sense of logic whilst being presented in a very amusing way. I found this book stimulated a lot of conversation with my children and encouraged them to use their imaginations. We have a version which is signed by Bruce Ingham in a style which is consistent with the story! An absolute delight!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant
I wish this book had been around when I was a child.
I would encourage every parent to try this book. Read more
I would encourage every parent to try this book. Read more
Published 1 month ago by J. Benson
Imaginative and funny
This is a favourite for both my toddlers. The story is imaginative and fun, it is beautifully illustrated and has a happy ending. What more could you want? Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Wyness
Great little book
This is a super little book for 3-6 year olds. The story is so clever and the children get very excited when, for example, the rubber arrives and deletes their previous story!
Published 14 months ago by Mutt
A clever and very well written book
My son is 3 and he loves this book! He asks us to read it over and over again, and to be honest we don't mind because it is so well written.
Published 19 months ago by Colette
brilliant read
- both my 3 year old and 5 year old love it, I like all the inappropriate names given to small obscure things and the people who have pets names.
Published 20 months ago by m ward
Superb!!!
Fantastic book, would highly recommend!!!
My children have learnt it off by heart they love it so much.
My children have learnt it off by heart they love it so much.
Published 22 months ago by bookbonkers200
Possibly the best children's book in the world...
This incredible book - written by Allan Ahlberg in his customary conversational style and illustrated by the genius that is Bruce Ingman - tells the story of a sad, lonely little... Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by Louisa Dreisin
Recommended
Little grandson 4 yrs not quite ready for this but will read it to the 5 yr old It was recommended to me!
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Anne Bridget Bloomfield
Charming and lovely....
This has been a popular purchase, both with regard to the children we've shared it with and the adults who have read it to them. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2010 by ScrummyMummy
Lovely book
It's a truly lovely and unusual book. My 3.5 year old loves it, as well as me. I think I buy it for her (we got ours from the library), and I think it will probably entertain her... Read more
Published on 20 Sep 2009 by Azu
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