I've had this book in my classroom for a while now. Perfect for those students who suffer from writer's block...I usually read this book to my students early in the school year. They love it, and it gets them talking...and ultimately writing!

Such a cute story about the power of art and imagination! A great example of the power we all have to shape our own reality.

Loving the illustrator, I was super excited to preview this new book given to my by NetGalley. However, I didn't like it as much as her previous work like New Shoes. The illustrations are all color which most children will enjoy. Idea of the story is a starting point for many teachers at school, so they will probably enjoy this a shared reading for their young students that are working on writing.

I love a good meta picture book, and Sara Varon's latest, My Pencil and Me, fits that bill wonderfully. Sara herself stars in this story, along with her dog, Sweet Pea, and her special pencil. Not sure what to draw, Sara turns to Pencil for advice, and Pencil is ready and willing to guide her! What unfolds is an entertaining romp through the creative process, where Pencil encourages Sara to "go around and collect ideas", and "draw recent adventures". Deciding on the setting of a baseball game she attended last week, Sara creates characters and adds a plot: in this case, a baseball game between imaginary and real friends. When an inevitable conflict arises, Sara must put her story in the hands of the imaginary friends to save the day! It's adorable, it's filled with humor, and is a smart guide to creative writing that kids will love. A photo of Varon with the real Pencil and Sweet Pea, and some imaginary friends hanging around, places the reader and makes things a little more tangible. Endpapers highlight different pencils, pens, and paintbrushes strewn about the white background, with our very own Pencil smiling up at us, illustrated, and standing out on its own.

Sara Varon's artwork is always so much fun to enjoy, with imaginative creatures and animals alongside people and real(ish) situations. There's overall narration and word bubbles, and panels throughout, making this another addition to picture book/graphic novel shelves. She's great at capturing small moments, and she's great at telling larger scale stories, all with her relatable author's voice and charming artwork. Invite your littles to tell you their own story using Pencil's guidelines - and, of course, have plenty of Pencils on hand for your littles to personify for themselves. (Or crayons, naturally!)

Charming meta-story about an creator and her creation(s). I've always loved Sara Varon's art, and this is no different. Whimsical and unique, but still recognizable and something that feels friendly and real.

How does a book come into existence? Can the process be broken down into steps? Or is the creation of a story the result of inspiration? My Pencil and Me suggests that authors find that both method and inventiveness are important.
Varon offers young readers a glimpse into a story's creation. Meet an author as she struggles with developing a narrative for her book. Fortunately, she has two friends to help: her dog and her pencil. The faithful canine sits beside her and serves as a sounding board, helping Sara to frame her thoughts in an interesting way.
Her pencil, kept at the ready in her pocket, makes visible the ideas percolating in her brain. The dialogue between the pencil and author is reassuring and to the point. (Pun intended.) “My pencil always gives me great advice.”
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​Varon's signature style packs each page with delight. Several whimsical critters are located throughout the text, most notably on the baseball diamond. Readers observe the artist’s process, as she brings her ideas to life with a zany assortment of baseball players.
Varon concludes the book with a wonderful surprise. Moving away from the talking pencil and fanciful characters, readers are offered a “real life” photograph of this author and artist creating a book. Great fun!
Along with a box of freshly sharpened pencils, hand this to aspiring authors. It’s a lighthearted approach to overcoming writer’s block, encouraging youngsters with gentle humor. A welcome addition to school and classroom libraries. Particularly helpful for youngsters receiving instruction at home. This comic might be the impetus for an informal My Pencil and Me writers’ collective where creators share their own stories.

Struggling to start a new book, Sara Varon gets help on how to write a story from a special pencil and her dog Sweat Pea.

Varon has found a clever and unique way to present the story writing process in a way kids can understand. She keeps to the basics, but makes the story quite entertaining. Recommended for budding authors and writing classes for littles.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an early copy in return for an honest review.

A short and sweet story that I can definitely see incorporating into a narrative writing unit in lower elementary classes. Really enjoy the graphic novel format and the actual photographs at the end...the variety is a great teaching opportunity for different elements of text.

Y'all, Sara Varon is just lovely. Her books always make me feel so good because they're so incredibly genuine. In this book, Sara is having a hard time coming up with what she should write her next book about, so she turns to her friends Sweet Pea and Pencil to help her figure it out.

Not only is this filled with the usual adorable, home-y feel of every Sara Varon book, but I think it would be really encouraging for kids. It does kind of walk them through the process of how they can start turning their ideas into art without being dry and boringly informative.

She's just one of my favorites for kids. And, as a side note, her instagram diary has really been helping me track time and events through this new COVID-19 world.

Sara, please just keep them coming.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My Pencil and Me was a very short and sweet story, it could defiently be used to introduce young kids to the art of writing a story. She also tackles the complex task of overcoming that anxiety and just creating your story. Give up on that unreachable idea of perfection. An imperfect finished story is always better, than a perfect unfinished story.

Jess

Cute book that encourages writing in children. Loved the graphic novel format. Definitely think kids are going to really enjoy this book, Also, great as an ebook for remote learning with students.

The right reader will fully appreciate how this slim graphic novel is both basic and meta. Great for conversations about story-starters, writer's block, and writing what you know.

I received an electronic ARC from First Second Books through NetGalley.
Humorous story about the book creation process. Sara talks with her dog and her pencil along with imaginary friends to create a story. She's stuck for an idea so pencil offers advice and tips. Together they create the book we're reading and offer young readers fun along the way.
Varon's illustrations capture the process and offer readers the chance to see behind the scenes of making a book.

Absolutely adorable comic and about kid and her pencil. I loved that this story encourages kids to tap into their creativity and tell their own stories. The illustrations are so bright and fun. This will be a hit with new comics readers

This was just so cute. The author is working on her new book, but she doesn’t know what to draw. So she asks her pencil for help. This book is both a look at what goes into creating a graphic story, and also the imaginary characters who help people every day. I loved that the author threw in a real picture of her and her dog drawing in the middle of the story. This is so very clever and very well done. A five star read!

"My Pencil and Me" is a perfect read aloud for elementary students to help them break down the components of a narrative story. The cute characters and comical comments from the pencil itself will have the class engaged and ready to tackle a writing project of their own.

This was a cute story about how to brainstorm ideas for writing. I think most kids would enjoy the pictures, but I do not know if the younger ones would understand the story. With that said, I don't think older elementary students would be interested. When reading the story as a tool for teaching, students would need to be reminded that this is just one way to brainstorm ideas.; it is not the only way.

The author/illustrator is the main character of this meta picture book that is told in dialogue balloons; Sara can’t think of how to begin the new book she is writing but her dog Sweet Pea urges her to consult with her pencil for ideas. The plot involves a baseball game but the main message is to make an effort when you have a challenge; there is also talk about the need for conflict and obstacles to make a good story. The full color cartoon art, similar to Varon’s previous books (such as Robot Dreams, 2007) tell much of the story and are similar to graphic novel layouts. The book ends with a photo of Sara and her real dog in her work room, which resembles to setting of the book.

Deep inside Sara is a budding artist and author. She adores telling stories and delights in creating drawings. But... deep inside of Sara resides a niggly, negative old doubt telling her that perhaps her ideas aren't good enough and just maybe her illustrations might be a flop. Oh my!

Her faithful dog companion reminds her that anytime she is stuck and can't get her story started her magic pencil is always there to bail her out.

"My pencil always gives me great advice!"

Her pencil mentors her through the story making process prompting her to unleash her imagination and to believe in herself. Sara learns to relax, gather and sort her ideas but mostly to have fun while doing so.

The illustrations are very well done and kid-friendly. The story presents lots of dialogue, action and playfulness. Kids will be encouraged to write their own stories as they learn all about the birth of a book. I would recommend "My Pencil and Me" to elementary teachers to read during creative writing lessons. A lovely aspect is when the real author and her dog appear at the end and guess what she is doing? Yes...creating the very book that the kids are experiencing right now. It's a lovely surprise element that readers will love. I highly recommend this book.

This book was so cute. I absolutely loved the art and the insertion of the author-illustrator into the story. I think this is a great read aloud for kids when you are working on writing fiction skills and the process of publishing a book.