With deceptive simplicity, Allan Ahlberg sneaks up on his unusual story in "The Pencil." No one who reads it – and pores over its pages – will be untouched by power of a pencil. Or an eraser.
In the beginning, an idle, rather lonely pencil gets up and draws a boy in shorts and a T-shirt. The pencil names him Banjo, and he asks Pencil to draw him a dog. It does and names the mutt Bruce. He asks for a cat, and Pencil draws a black-and-white calico and names it Mildred. Mildred wants a mouse, but Pencil refuses and draws cat food.
Of course, Bruce chases Mildred all over the town, which grows as fast as Pencil can draw streets and houses. Before long Pencil feeds his three creations, but they refuse to eat black-and-white food. That calls for a paintbrush that magically colors everything.
What follows a bit of family discord nearly cuts the story short. Pencil creates an eraser, and it cavalierly begins to eliminate some of Pencil's hard work. He goes on a rampage that no one can stop until Pencil comes up with another smart creation. (No spoiler here, you'll have to read it.)
Bruce Ingman masterfully illustrates Ahlberg's story. He punctuates his frugal, childlike line drawings with expressive faces.
"Pete & Pickles"
Berkeley Breathed
Philomel/Penguin, $17.99, 48 pages, ages 4-8
In "Pete & Pickles," Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Berkeley Breathed (Bloom County) gives young readers two lovable characters in a silly story with heart. It focuses on the unlikely friendship between Pete, a pig, and Pickles, an unhappy circus elephant. They first met when Pickles tried to take refuge in Pete's house. They link up again when Pete boosts Pickles from her jaillike cage under the big tent. Pete's new roommate has some unwelcome habits (snoring, for one), but she's charming and playful. Just as Pig is about to evict her, a pipe breaks and the house fills up with water and traps the friends. Pete saves his friend with amazing heroics.
The author credits his young daughter with the idea for this wild ride. The spirited illustrations for this fun read-aloud are computer-enhanced acrylics and watercolors.
"Trick of the Tale"
John and Caitlin Matthews
Candlewick, $18.99, 98 pages, ages 9-12
"The Great Train Robbery and Other Mysteries"
Richard Scarry
Sterling/Random House, $12.95, 104 pages, ages 5-8
These two collections are great read-alouds. The Matthews' trickster tales from around the world are about wily creatures outsmarting the powerful. Stunning illustrations on heavy paper by Tomislav Tomic give this book an exquisite feel, but I hope grown-ups still let the children dive into it.
The younger set will revel in the three wacky mysteries in the Richard Scarry volume. His marvelous cast of animals solves each case but not before they bumble and splat all over town.
Judy Green can be reached at jgreen@sacbee.com.
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