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Stubby: A Silly and Informational Picture Book about How a Pencil Is Made, for Kids
- GenresPicture BooksChildrens
40 pages, Hardcover
Published June 30, 2026
About the author
Sydra Mallery
3 books3 followersSydra Mallery is an elementary school teacher, a poet, and an adoptive parent. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her family, a cat, and a bearded dragon. A Most Unusual Day is her first book.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
8yr old: I like how it tells the story of how a pencil is made and the life it goes through. A kid chewed on him so he had the bite marks. He got really small because another kid sharpened him too much. My favorite part was when they showed the processing plant and how a pencil is made while going through the conveyor belt.
Me: My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than my kids! This picture book follows Stubby, a pencil with a rather unexpected backstory, from his beginnings as a tall cedar tree in a quiet forest to his eventual place in a lively elementary classroom. Along the way, it carefully shows each step of how a pencil is made, turning a complex manufacturing process into something easy to understand and enjoyable to follow.
What makes it especially lovely is the tone: it stays light and playful while still offering solid STEM learning. Stubby’s journey feels warm and approachable, as readers see him start as part of a forest ecosystem full of life and then gradually become something children can hold, use, and even name. It’s the kind of story that naturally invites curiosity, making it a thoughtful choice for classrooms, libraries, and family reading time without ever feeling heavy or overly instructive.
Me: My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this book more than my kids! This picture book follows Stubby, a pencil with a rather unexpected backstory, from his beginnings as a tall cedar tree in a quiet forest to his eventual place in a lively elementary classroom. Along the way, it carefully shows each step of how a pencil is made, turning a complex manufacturing process into something easy to understand and enjoyable to follow.
What makes it especially lovely is the tone: it stays light and playful while still offering solid STEM learning. Stubby’s journey feels warm and approachable, as readers see him start as part of a forest ecosystem full of life and then gradually become something children can hold, use, and even name. It’s the kind of story that naturally invites curiosity, making it a thoughtful choice for classrooms, libraries, and family reading time without ever feeling heavy or overly instructive.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey was such a fun and surprisingly informative picture book! Told from the perspective of a tiny pencil named Stubby, this story takes readers all the way from towering cedar tree to busy classroom pencil, showing each step of the manufacturing process along the way.
I especially loved how educational this book felt without ever becoming boring or overly "instructional". It would pair perfectly with a classroom unit about how everyday objects are made! The information is woven naturally into the story, making it engaging for young readers while still teaching them something meaningful.
The illustrations were incredibly clever and full of personality. Many pages use a graphic novel/comic-style layout that makes the book feel modern, energetic, and very kid-friendly. I can easily see this format appealing to reluctant readers and students who love learning about how things are made!
The classroom scenes were hilarious too, especially Stubby’s experiences being chewed on, dropped, and sharpened over and over again!
This is a fantastic nonfiction picture book that educators, librarians, and families will all enjoy.
I especially loved how educational this book felt without ever becoming boring or overly "instructional". It would pair perfectly with a classroom unit about how everyday objects are made! The information is woven naturally into the story, making it engaging for young readers while still teaching them something meaningful.
The illustrations were incredibly clever and full of personality. Many pages use a graphic novel/comic-style layout that makes the book feel modern, energetic, and very kid-friendly. I can easily see this format appealing to reluctant readers and students who love learning about how things are made!
The classroom scenes were hilarious too, especially Stubby’s experiences being chewed on, dropped, and sharpened over and over again!
This is a fantastic nonfiction picture book that educators, librarians, and families will all enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Read this book for my kid at bedtime. An excellent story about a pencil named Stubby. We both loved this story so much!
Stubby gave us readers a glimpse into the process of how a pencil was made. It started with him being an evergreen tree in the forest full of foods for many animals. Then many trucks came to cut him down and clean him off his branches and leaves. They took him on a trip out of the forest and into the timber yard where they cut the logs into planks. Then they took the planks to a pencil factory to make pencils. The pencils are ten in a box and sold at the store. The pencils wait for students and parents to buy them. The pencils arrived at the school with each student. The students use the pencils to write and draw. Some pencils got changed hands. Students use it, teachers use it, parents use it and sharpen it. Eventually, readers found it, write with it, keep it, and give it a name.
Great story and illustrations!
Thank you Greenwillow Books for the opportunity to read and review.
Stubby gave us readers a glimpse into the process of how a pencil was made. It started with him being an evergreen tree in the forest full of foods for many animals. Then many trucks came to cut him down and clean him off his branches and leaves. They took him on a trip out of the forest and into the timber yard where they cut the logs into planks. Then they took the planks to a pencil factory to make pencils. The pencils are ten in a box and sold at the store. The pencils wait for students and parents to buy them. The pencils arrived at the school with each student. The students use the pencils to write and draw. Some pencils got changed hands. Students use it, teachers use it, parents use it and sharpen it. Eventually, readers found it, write with it, keep it, and give it a name.
Great story and illustrations!
Thank you Greenwillow Books for the opportunity to read and review.
July 16, 2026
Is this a good book? Yes, it's cute. Are the drawings nice? Yes, love the illustrations. Do I like the message of the book? NO! No I don't, this book makes deforestation seem like a happy positive thing, like the trees want to be cut down and used. It goes into how the tree was so beneficial for so many animals, but then machines cut it down along with a large section of Forrest and we are all supposed to be happy for it because now it isn't just rooted in one place. It can go places! Like under a desk..... the messaging in this book is ridiculous. It should say supported by a deforestation project near you!
July 10, 2026
An interesting story that tells the life story of a pencil. From starting out as a tree, to a pencil making factory, to even being used by different students in a classroom, stubby's life is full of adventures that will also teach children how pencils are made.
July 10, 2026
"Maybe you even saw the tree in me." - Pencil to boy
Ever curious how pencils are made? And want to see it illustrated from tree to pencil? Now's your chance!
Themes: pencils
Ages:
Pub year: 2026
Ever curious how pencils are made? And want to see it illustrated from tree to pencil? Now's your chance!
Themes: pencils
Ages:
Pub year: 2026
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Clever idea. Enjoyed seeing the process of a tree becoming pencils. A bit long to hold my interest.
July 2, 2026
Five adorable, cute, and informational stars!
Such an enjoyable read that is full of heart.
Such an enjoyable read that is full of heart.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews