  | Full Text Reviews: School Library Journal - 06/01/2019 PreS-Gr 2—All Linus (a little yellow No. 2 pencil) wants to do is make his mark in his upcoming family art show. He is full of inspiration but is always dissed and discouraged by his eraser Ernie. They just can't seem to see eye to eye. As the show draws closer and pressure begins to mount, Linus begins to doubt himself, which is the worst feeling of all. At the edge of his page, Linus meets a mentor of sorts in an unlikely place, who urges him to worry less about Ernie and to find his path simply by drawing it. Feeling more inspired than ever, he gets to work. With a little drawing from Linus, and a little erasing from Ernie, they create beautifully, uniquely smudged art. And they couldn't have done it without each other. Their art has the most heart; they lived happily ever after. Magoon reminds readers of the power of sharing the creative process and sticking with it. His humor shines through as puns punctuate the pages, which are also filled with expressive and energetic drawings. VERDICT This book has an important message to embrace the creative process, wrapped up in the package of one punny picture book.—Elizabeth Blake, Brooklyn Public Library - Copyright 2019 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 06/01/2019 Linus, a yellow no. 2 pencil, decides to compete in the “family art show,” but his other half, Ernie the red eraser, doesn’t appreciate Linus’ artwork. Ernie denigrates and erases everything Linus draws, and Linus is beginning to doubt his own abilities. The narrative is packed with art-related puns (“bristling with envy”; “brush aside”; “drawn to the very edge”; “Go, get that lead out”), and the digitally created illustrations are filled with movement and color. Linus’ pencil lines sometimes flow from one page to the next, and the location of the text, some of which appears to be hand-lettered, changes from page to page. Linus, feeling “a bit worn down,” enters a pencil sharpener and meets the Oscar the Grouch look-alike hidden inside, who gives him some very pointed advice. The idea of the two ends of the same pencil learning to get along will appeal to children as they watch what the pair are able to create together with a bit of cooperation. - Copyright 2019 Booklist. Loading...
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