Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, my friends! I’m still in Chicago, but I wanted to make sure I shared this lovely new book by Jodi McKay. Think THE DOT meets THE DAY THE CRAYONS QUIT. It’s a story that will encourage kids to draw for pleasure, do their best, and have fun…and it launches in just a few days. And author McKay is donating a copy of the book as a GIVEAWAY…YAY! Please make sure you leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win.
PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE
Written by Jodi McKay
Illustrated by Juliana Motzko
Published by Albert Whitman (2019)
Ages: 3-5
Themes: Do your best; art; believe in yourself
Synopsis: From Amazon:
Pencil is trying to draw the perfect picture for his dad. So, he asks his friends Brush, Pastel, Marker, Crayon, and Chalk what makes their art perfect. But they each have a different answer. How will Pencil be able to create his own perfect picture?
Why I love this book:
- Wonderful text that will encourage discussion about tackling projects we are unsure of
- Creative illustrations that help us connect with the main character, even though it is a pencil
- I love that the author used art supplies as the characters to show how kids feel
RELATED ACTIVITIES:
Deocrated Pencils
Photo courtesy: https://thediydreamer.com/crafts/decorative-pencils-family-craft/
How about making the perfect pencil? For detailed instructions: https://thediydreamer.com/crafts/decorative-pencils-family-craft/
And remember, the greatest gift we can give an author is to buy their book, review their book, tell a friend about their book, and ask our local library to add the book to their colloection.
Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of PENCIL’S PERFECT PICTURE. We’d love to hear how you felt about your art when you were a kid.
For more wonderful picture book reviews, please visit Susanna Leonard Hill’s Perfect Picture Book Friday post.
I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Please stay tuned for the #50PreciousWordsforKids International Writing Challenge: April 29-May 6…if you know any teachers or parents who might want their children to participate, please pass along the information.
VIVIAN KIRKFIELD - Writer for Children 
Oooh, this looks like a great book for my artistically inclined granddaughter! Thanks for telling us about it, Vivian, and have a great time in Chicago!
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I was just talking with a friend about her son’s drawings and how much he has grown as an artist (he’s 8). I hear so many kids talking about drawing, watch them make comics, yet they only have art class once every 8 days in my neck of the woods. I think books like this, and the graphic novels, and illustrated chapter books, help kids play with art. I can’t wait to read this one. I wonder if it would pair well with Max Amato’s Prefect?
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This would pair nicely with The Dot. It is so important for kids to use their imagination and worry less about being perfect. Although I remember being upset that I colored outside of the lines in kindergarten — funny how we hold onto the native. Need to teach children differently.
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Thanks for sharing this book!
Your reply above about being upset when colouring outside the lines in kindergarten is so true. I see it all the time in the classes I teach in but I also see the total opposite where some kids don’t give a hoot about how their drawing/colouring looks. They just enjoy the process. Everyone’s so different 🙂
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I don’t know what it is, but cool writing utensils are always fun. Maybe it’s because they are in hand. Looking forward to seeing this book!
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There’s something about pencils… I have boxes and jars filled with them. Some of my pencils date back to my elementary school days! I’m looking forward to finding out how Pencil solves his dilemma. 🙂
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My 4-year old son pretty much refuses to draw because he hears his 8-year old sister talking about how bad her artwork is, and he thinks his must be bad too. I’ve read him The Dot, and he loved it, but this book sounds like just the thing! Thanks so much for sharing!
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I used to draw horses and unicorns when I was younger and used to study other artists drawings to try to make mine look realistic. I thought I was pretty good at horses, cartoon animals, but horrible at drawing people. Thanks for the chance to win a copy of this book by Jodi McKay!
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It’s interesting that this book is suggested for ages 3-5. My son didn’t begin to compare his artwork to others until first grade. As a kindergartener, his work was still distinctly his own. When he hit first grade, he started to compare his work to others, and he started to mimic friends whom he thought were better at drawing than he was. It made me so sad. By the time he reached 4th grade, his personal style had disappeared. Maybe different kids reach this point earlier (as others have pointed out), but I’m thinking this book would be good for older kids to read, too. I remember being criticized by my teacher in kindergarten for NOT coloring within the lines, LOL. Oh, my….Thanks for the rec Vivian!
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I love pencil drawing more than paint or crayon. This sounds like an awesome book and using unique characters will certainly appeal to kids. Love it.
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This sounds like a book I should take a look at Vivian! Thanks for sharing!
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What fun – to explore art from the perspective of the tools that help us create it. I agree with Patricia’s comment above that it would pair perfectly with Peter Reynolds’ The Dot. Thanks for sharing!
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What a fantastic book. I think drawing is one of the first hobbies that toddlers and preschoolers love to do.
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It’s so important to encourage drawing and creativity early in life, before insecurity sets in. This book will do just that!
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My Dad worked for Dixon and we lived in Ticonderoga NY… ie The Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencil that we all know and love!!! I can’t wait to get this book and see how the humble pencil makes the greatest picture. This is really personal to me. 🙂
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This sounds like a fun book. I have Dot and I love it. I loved to draw when I was a kid, and I like using pencils because they also have an eraser (which comes in handy). Thanks for telling us about it and for the give a way.
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