Pencil

by Hye-eun Kim

What is a pencil? A forest transformed. In this beautifully illustrated wordless picture book, young readers can follow a pencil's life cycle from tree to factory to store shelf and back to tree.

Even the simplest tool contains multitudes. Once a living tree, then a manufactured commodity, a pencil in the hands of a young artist becomes the key to a rich imaginative world. In this expansive, gorgeously illustrated story, creator Hye-Yun Kim asks us to see and appreciate the full value—and infinite possibilities—of the pencil, as well as other seemingly mundane objects around us. This powerful aid for teaches readers essential visual literacy skills and celebrates the creative process.

Genres: Picture Books, Art, Nature, Childrens, Nonfiction, Environment, Graphic Novels

48 pages, Hardcover

First published March 18, 2025

Reviews

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a single word, this picture book traces a pencil from the forest to an artist drawing a picture of a forest with colored pencils. Sounds simple, but Hye-Eun Kim’s detailed pencil illustrations speak a thousand words. There’s even instructions for how to read a “silent book.” Five stars, for sure.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, Astra Publishing House and TOON Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

The glorious life cycle of a simple tool: the pencil. This picture book is a quiet exploration of where ordinary objects come from and the life they lead and how that life affects us. Kim uses pencils, both graphite and color, to draw a pencil’s life in tidy, captivating illustrations, and both the colors used and the white space used draw a rereading of the book almost immediately upon finishing it. I absolutely love this book - it explains so much about such a simple object - and I think that it will encourage the readers to explore the illustrations and their thoughts about the book in a deep fashion. It is so quiet and honest. In the end, Kim advises how to share a “silent book.” Such a beautiful read.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for this ARC.

[Jamie Johnson Leach · Rating 5 out of 5]

so beautiful 💜

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A silent book, with no words. Quietly beautiful images. A circular story where the pencil shavings beget trees, which beget pencils, ...

But I have some questions. It is nice to see the pencil shavings grow in the next pages into colorful trees, but that doesn't really happen.
It looks like the trees encourage wildlife. Ok.
Then the colorful trees are taken to a smoggy black/white factory and made into a rainbow of colorful pencils. Hmm... it is not the color of trees that make the color of the pencils.

Then the cycle continues where a child can draw a tree (Or have pencil shavings grow a tree).

I child that is learning to read, and having this book read by an adult, can have the adult tell a very colorful story. I child may even pick this book up to examine the quietly beautiful sketches.

But at an early age, the realization will be made that the opening pages where pencil shavings turn into new trees, will fall apart.

But maybe that is the author's intent. The factory to make pencils is portrayed very badly. Dirty/smoky trucks take the cut-trees to a black/white factory that is spewing smoke to the sky.

Pixs: 4.75*
Pencil shavings turning into trees: 3*
Ave: 4*

[Morgan the Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the art in this! It was such a beautiful, simple wordless picture book that I read a few times. I loved finding more meaning as I went and the art was just so lovely and enjoyable. There's a lot of ways the pictures connect to each other as they go, with the pencil becoming such a larger symbol. It's really well done and my favorite wordless picture book I've seen recently. I also found the blurb about how to read something wordless nice in the back.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautifully illustrated wordless picture book! This story shows us how a pencil is created by showing us the tree, then going to the factory, to the store, and then finally back to a tree. It makes one appreciate and really see how nature is around us and what it can become.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are mine.

[Ellie Schaben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Hye-Eun Kim and TOONBooks for the ARC!

This book is beautifully illustrated. It follows the journey of a forest all the way to a small artist creating a forest with her colored pencils. Showing the lifecycle of the things we use in everyday life is so valuable to start important conversations about sustainability and using the things we need. This is a wordless book, but this shouldn't scare you. The author gives some notes on how to read a wordless book at the end, which can help start conversations. Definitely worth the buy for these beautiful illustrations!

[Sarah Benham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always astounded by the potency and vibrancy of a wordless picture book. This one benefits from a lovely set of instructions/guiding questions at the end that I will purchase the book for and use in my classroom. Illustrations are gorgeous as we follow the main character through sharpening her pencil and creating a beautiful world in art!! Have pre-ordered!!

[Sarah Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

A simple, wordless picturebook filled with colored pencil drawings. It tracks the practical and imagined cycles of tree to pencil, pencil to tree and people to nature, nature to people. The drawings are beautiful. The self-directed story has shades of Where the Wild Things are and the child depicted drawing the world evokes Harold and the Purple Crayon.

This would be a great book to spark discussion, to occupy a child during quiet time, or wind down for bed.

Thank you to Astra House for an advanced copy.

[Robin Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read a silent story in such a long time. If you choose to read this one, there's a beautiful guide at the end on how to read a silent book - I would read this first with my family or a class. There's even a challenge on how a book could be made with other everyday used items which I think would be an incredibly powerful assignment to do with students. I think the illustrations in this book are incredibly gorgeous and make a powerful statement.

This story follows the story of a pencil from how its made to how it can be recycled back into nature. The pencil drawings are incredible. I cannot describe it here in any sort of way that would do it justice.

If you LOVE picture books, trees and colored pencils, this is the picture book for you! If you are looking for something new and creative to do in the classroom, this would pair really well with the book with no pictures to make a fun lesson on both styles.

[Jane Healy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This wordless picture book would appeal to older kids through adults, especially those interested in art or writing. The back includes a page that gives tips on reading a wordless book and encourages readers to try their hand at a creative endeavor by closely studying an ordinary object. In the book itself, readers see a pencil morph into a garden, a tree, and other things, leading the reader to a sense of wonder about an ordinary pencil that contains worlds. This book would be a great creative artistic prompt.

[Steph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the "How to Read a Silent Book" following the story!

[Stephanie Bange · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published in South Korea, this quiet, wordless picture book is now available in the U.S. with an English title. Kim's book is a beautiful wonder.

The "life" of a pencil is traced from its first sharpening to the leaves of a tree. The tree grows in the middle of a lively forest until one day it is chopped down by loggers. The forest tree logs are hauled off on the back of a truck that emits a smoky exhaust to a big factory that is blowing major smoky pollution into the air. Inside the factory, it is made into a green color pencil and sent to a store where a young girl buys it. She takes it out to an open field where she draws stumps of trees and more trees, refilling the forest with trees that attract back the wildlife. As she leaves the forest, she plants the pencil in the dirt, pointed side up where it sprouts into the tree the pencil came from. Backmatter includes a page of suggestions on "How to read a silent book."

Wow! Without using a word, Kim gets across her powerful message of the importance of trees to our world. In her debut effort, she skillfully shows step-by-step this process how making the pencil is destructive to the land we inhabit and air we breathe. It took this little girl to make a difference.

Kim's artwork was drawn with colored pencils and markers - the most logical of choices for this topic. The opening image of the pencil on both the cover and title page looks photoreal. Using a minimal color palette of blues, reds, greens, browns, and blacks, readers are forced to look at the action of the story and the patterns around to focus on. The attention to detail is incredible, especially inside the pencil factory and the art store which has a drawing of an illustration shown earlier in the book. My personal favorite illustration is inside the art supply store; it is a feast of detail for the eyes.

This would be useful to use with children to raise vocabulary and encourage creative writing.
Highly Recommended for PreSchool-grade 3.

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful, wordless celebration of creativity and caring for the environment, conveyed through the life cycle of a pencil. The title page introduces us to the main character: a slender green pencil. Next we see it being sharpened, with shavings falling gently down the illustration and becoming (surprise!) the delicate leaves of a young tree. Turn the page and a forest of tiny, pencil-sketched trees begins to emerge, growing denser and eventually becoming a biome filled with animals in a rainbow of colors. Suddenly, a cloud of birds fills the sky, frightened by the toppling of the now giant trees, leaving only colorful stumps behind. The birds follow a trail of dirty exhaust to a pencil factory, which spews correspondingly gritty clouds along with its wares, but hope reemerges as a young girl selects a newly delivered green pencil from an art store display. She begins to re-draw a forest, which welcomes back the animals, who all gather to watch as she stoops to plant a tiny tree.

With its thick creamy paper and delicate but still child-like artwork, this book invites readers to linger over details and create their own backstory for what’s going on in the pictures. I loved the metatextuality of the book. Kim makes the pencil the star, but it’s also being used to create the story. Similarly, the girl enters as a character, but also becomes a powerful creator, able to counter the destruction of the natural world. The book perfectly builds anticipation and each page turn brings unexpected and interesting developments. The book was originally published in Korea and the young girl has Asian features. The delicacy of the details make it most suitable for one-to-one read alouds. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love wordless picture books, and this was a good one. 

The flow from pencil shavings, to forest, to wind toppled trees, to lumber on a truck, colored pencils in a factory, a little girl buying pencils in an art store, and birthing the forest anew by drawing it with her new pencils- was subtle and seamless.

I was impressed by how, even on the 2 pg spreads where trees densely cover the whole page, almost none of them are identical. You can see each tree was thoughtfully, uniquely designed and hand drawn. 

I'm reading a nonfiction title for adults right now about carbon, how it is the organic building block for all life forms on earth and also the main “control knob” for the planet's climate. I thought of that as I read this book- how all those trees perform photosynthesis using carbon dioxide they pull from the atmosphere, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. Then animals, including people, breathe in this oxygen and use it to metabolize the plant matter they eat. We also use plant material to produce goods, including pencils. (The “lead” in pencils is actually graphite, which is also made of carbon.) We breathe out CO2, and the transport truck and the pencil factory also emit CO2. CO2 is the thing that links the little girl, the pencil, and the forest- this book is really an illustration of one part of Earth's carbon cycle. 

I enjoyed the suggestions on the last page about “how to read a silent book.” As a librarian I appreciate learning how I could share this book with little ones in a storytime.

Not an all time fave, but I liked this picture book and will recommend it to patrons in the future. 

4 / 5 stars.

[Jeimy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pencil by Hye-eun Kim is a powerful wordless picture book that invites readers to pause and appreciate the unseen journey of everyday objects. Through stunning colored pencil illustrations, Kim traces the life cycle of a pencil—from its origins in a forest to its industrial transformation and, ultimately, its rebirth as a tool of creative expression. The wordless format enhances the contemplative tone, allowing readers to absorb each scene at their own pace, while developing visual literacy along the way.

The attention to detail is striking. Kim doesn’t shy away from depicting the environmental impact of harvesting trees, showcasing displaced animals and industrial pollution in contrast to the vibrant life of the forest. Yet, this isn't a story of hopeless loss—it is one of transformation. The final sequence, in which a child artist uses the pencil to reimagine the world and, quite literally, restore the forest, is deeply moving. It is a gentle reminder of how imagination and creation can offer forms of renewal.

As a former educator, I especially appreciated the note at the end that teaches readers how to approach wordless picture books. This would be a fantastic addition to any classroom, library, or home collection—not just for its aesthetic appeal, but for the conversations it sparks about sustainability, creativity, and seeing beauty in the everyday.

[Beau Manglass · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for a review. And I (usually) deliver on my promises *shakes fist*

Pencil is a spare yet rich little exploration of (on a concrete level) where pencils come from, and (on a more abstract level) how creation is part of an endless cycle of taking and giving back. Through beautiful and fitting colored pencil illustrations, we see pencil shavings turn into tree sprouts, which grow into forests before being chopped down and brought to a factory where they are made into pencils and brought to stores. From there, an unnamed child protagonist begins to draw tree sprouts, then trees growing, then a forest-- and so the cycle begins again.

This is a fine example of a wordless picture book, with a concept rich enough to carry readers along even without text to guide them. I was particularly delighted to find the brief "How to read a silent book" text at the end, which guides readers who may be unfamiliar with wordless picture books as to how they can engage with and narrate the story, for both themselves and others. These tips would apply to any wordless picture book, so this would be a nice addition to a collection that already contains others.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hye-Eun Kim’s wordless picture book, Pencil, takes the reader on a journey of a pencil from its start in the forest to its life as a creative instrument. Pencil shavings forming a tree begin the story, which soon depicts a vibrant forest. Trees are then harvested while birds flee the forest, and scenes of a factory producing coloured pencils follow. To finish the story, a girl selects a pencil from a store, and by adding to the cut trunks of trees she draws a new forest. She plants the pencil at the conclusion, which begins the cycle again. Kim’s imaginative take on the life of a pencil and the environmental impact of manufacturing are expressed through colourful illustrations of the forest and pencils compared to the gray tones and polluted plumes of the factory. Children are sure to notice the contrast of the two, but also the promising mood of the pencil being planted at the end. This book offers many excellent opportunities to explore narrative writing, art, and resources and the environment in the classroom. As a wordless book, it is accessible to every reader making it a worthwhile addition to a public or school library. Thank you to Astra Publishing House for providing this book via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Karla Fasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wordless, reflective story retraces the journey of a simple, green pencil to its origins, while sensitively tapping into themes of human impact on nature. The pencil is first presented with its shavings taking shape as leaves, which then form the branches of a tree in a young forest that then becomes the magnificent home of a multitude of animals. A sudden shift in imagery shows a mixed flock of birds fleeing. The remains of their homes – freshly cut logs – are loaded onto a truck driving away to the smog-filled factories where colorful pencils are made. Next we see a child in an art store, selecting the same green pencil from the beginning of the story. She begins a journey, transforming the emptiness around her into a lush forest painting with her single pencil. Kim has created these pages of beautifully detailed artwork with graphite and colored pencil. The sequence delicately allows for the reading of the story to be accessible and unique to the reader’s interpretation, quietly offering something for all ages.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing a digital copy with me to review. All opinions are my own.

[Calista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another great wordless book. I love that this is wordless and it's translated from Korean. There was a piece of back matter the author wrote that had to be translated. This would be a great job to have.

A great book. It has a story of a pencil and how it brings art to life and that art tells the story of the pencil. I like that it helps us think about something so simple as a pencil and where it comes from. There are so many people that work just to bring us a simple pencil. Everything we own comes from a whole host of people who helped to bring it to us in some way. It's how we are all connected.

The artwork is done in pencil. It's delicate work and colorful and quite amazing. I'm impressed. The artwork has a lonely quality to it I feel. Even at the art supply store with all the pencils and art around, it still has this lonely feel to it. It's interesting.

There are some great questions in the back to ask after reading this book with kids. It would be fun. I miss reading wordless books with the kids. Their imagination soared.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published in Korea, this wordless picture book may be one of the most exquisite ones I have read in a long time. The artwork, rendered in colored pencils and pencil, is filled with delicate sketches, mostly of the woods, but also of an individual tree and the papermill that processes it and others into consumable products. A pencil might seem like a simple object, but as this book shows, step by step, there is so much more to it than meets the eyes. The title page with its slender green unsharpened pencil in the center gives way on the next page to the same pencil, now being sharpened as pencil shavings drip to the bottom of the page artistically, becoming small green buds or leaves on the next page, then part of a tree, and then part of a forest. There's even more to the rest of the story, but I won't spoil it for readers. Suffice to say, this imaginative book will prompt questions and reflection.

[Kaylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pencil is a wordless picture book that encourages young readers to imagine the previous life of seemingly mundane objects.

This book has become a wonderful mindfulness tool for my young children. The absence of narration encourages them to slow down and use their imagination while following the beautiful illustrations. The experience of reading this book has also invited them to imagine the previous lives of other items in our home.

I really appreciate the "How to read a silent book" section that is included at the end. These steps helped me to understand additional ways to use the book and suggested conversation topics.

Thank you to Astra Books and Hye-eun Kim for the copy of this book I received through Goodreads Giveaways!

[Patricia N. McLaughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thought-provoking wordless book depicts how an ordinary pencil becomes an artist’s instrument, from sharpening the pencil point that draws the images to fashioning the forest from which the wood was harvested to picturing the factory where the pencil was manufactured to visualizing the store where it was sold to the artist who imagines even more stories. Cleverly sketched into each of the images is the concept of Jeong, the Korean belief in the interconnection among all things. Simple colored-pencil drawings demonstrate how mighty the humble pencil can be when wielded by the power of the imagination. End pages include insightful instructions for how to read a silent book, which in themselves are an elegant introduction to meditation.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mother of two here, and this was a beautiful book! My kids and I enjoyed looking through the book, at the pictures, and pointing out different elements. The illustrations are so detailed and gorgeous but I do not feel a book without words would get much use in our household. We own 1 book without words and, although that too is beautifully illustrated, it does not get any use in our home. I do love that the illustrator gives a “How To” guide at the end of the book, helping families walk through a silent book. That is helpful but a tough concept for children to grasp.

Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for this eARC!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this wordless picture book, colored pencil shavings become a tree, then many trees and then a forest, with animals. But when the trees are cut and taken to a factory and made into colored pencils, a little girl knows just what to do.

Gorgeous, and special. When you read Pencil, you may get a different story. I love how the author left instructions for reading a silent book at the end - I would have put it at the beginning. What will this story tell you? Because Pencil was originally published in Korea, I would infer that the little girl is also Korean.

[Elaine Fultz, Teacher Librarian, MLS · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Silent" wordless picture book features stunning artwork (NYTimes Best Illustrated this year???) with a message about art and creativity. Bonus is the back matter, "How to read a silent book." #2 is "Encourage rereading. Then have readers speak about their interpretations and responses to the text. Let young readers point things out. Listen to what happens." #5 is "When you close the book, have a moment of silence to give everyone the space to reflect on the experience. Follow up by having tell imagined stories of everyday objects."

[Andrea W · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wordless journey of breathtaking proportion. Readers are whisked away on a cascade of pencil shavings to the pencil’s very beginnings, a sapling, a tree, a forest, and a home, they then travel on a journey to the factory and art supply store and a child’s grasp through production, discovery, use, the act of creativity and creation, and then ultimately back to the ground. The award winning artwork is a colored pencil reverie, simultaneously imaginative, dreamlike, exquisite, while remaining brilliantly grounded.

[Anna R · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a whimsical wordless story with beautiful, colorful illustrations. I liked the quiet pacing of the wordless story, as well as watching the pencil go full circle. I may have appreciated the story and themes more as an adult that my preschooler did, but she still was mesmerized by the illustrations and she enjoyed telling her own interpretation of the story. Excited to read this again and again.

[Emma · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was beautifully illustrated and had a good message. Typically I am not a fan of silent, wordless picture books, but was pleasantly surprised with this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

For more reviews and discussions, listen to my podcast The Honest Book Reviewers with Nate and Emma.

https://open.spotify.com/show/3H3ugH4...

[Shahana Kothari · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a BEAUTIFULLY illustrated book with magical story telling through the imagery. The storytelling is creative and the colour so vibrant and attractive for a young audience!
Some people may have never read a silent book before so I appreciate the "How to Read a Silent Book" section at the end..
A nice way for children to learn a creative interpretation of the life-cyle of a pencil.

Thank you NetGalley, Astra Publishing House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!