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.

A pencil goes through an existential crisis when his eraser criticizes his art.The upcoming art show and its attendant grand prize have got Linus, a little yellow pencil, and all the other art supplies (crayons, a paintbrush, and a ruler, among others) very excited. But at the other end from Linus' point, eraser Ernie is extremely critical of Linus' drawings. Ernie moves from embarrassment at their quality to outright anger, and he takes it out on Linus. The pencil's cheerful expression soon morphs from worry through sadness and shock to depression as Linus watches the other supplies creating beautiful work. Then, "feeling dull," Linus meets Smudge in a "cave" (a pencil sharpener) and gets some solid advice about using the talents you have when you are able: "Find your path by drawing it." And Linus does just that, finding a way for him to draw and for Ernie to erase that creates something totally new and different. Readers will notice that although their work attracts a crowd at the show, no grand prize is awarded, which makes the ending more of a fizzle than a finale. Magoon's digital artwork uses scanned paper textures manipulated in Photoshop, with color used masterfully—the result emphasizes the different looks achieved by using the various art supplies. The simple but expressive faces on the implements are standouts.Magoon gets his message across: Be the best you you can be. (Picture book. 4-8)

Linus the pencil yearns to compete in the family art show with all the other office implements. But Ernie, the red eraser that sits at the top of Linus-s bright yellow body, has a mind of his own, and it-s the equivalent of a human-s inner critic. Ernie is convinced that Linus-s art will be an embarrassment and thus thwarts any attempt at art-making. -You call that a straight line?- Ernie scowls, then -Rubba-dubba-rubb went Ernie, and Linus-s line was gone.- Some advice from a composite figure living inside the pencil sharpener (-Let the eraser erase. It is no matter-) rescues Linus from a spiral of self-doubt and inspires him to enlist Ernie in blending and smudging, adding drama and texture to their drawings just in time for the big show (-They drew wildly and joyfully together-). Effusive text by Magoon (Rescue & Jessica) can feel overeager, but the digital drawings offer an unbridled energy that veers between bold poster styling and the intriguing chaos of a relentlessly creative artist-s sketch pad. Ages 3-5. (June)