Sydra Mallery launches "Stubby: A Pencil's Journey," with Kyra Wolfe

Join us for the launch of Sydra Mallery's Stubby: A Pencil's Journey, a humorous and informational account of a pencil’s journey from cedar tree to classroom—told by a stubby little pencil himself.

Sydra Mallery will read from Stubby, followed by a conversation with public school librarian Kyra Wolfe, audience Q&A, book signing, and reception.

Preorder your copy of Stubby here!

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About the book

It all started in a forest.

Before working hard in the classroom and being sharpened down to a stub, Stubby was a towering cedar tree in a forest far away. It hasn’t been easy for Stubby—he’s been sliced and chewed, made friends and lost them, and even spent three dusty days on the floor before being scooped up . Stubby describes each step of his journey from tree to pencil to writer from his own (very silly, very dramatic, very creative) point of view.

Sydra Mallery’s text is a testament to her many years as an elementary school teacher—it’s an engaging read aloud full of fun information, and sure to have kids on the edge of their seats. John Hare’s illustrations contribute even more comedy to Stubby’s arduous journey and shine a spotlight on vehicles and professions, how things are made, and the real-world application of science. A pitch-perfect picture book with tons of curricular hooks and kid appeal, Stubby is an excellent pick for fans of The Day the Crayons Quit, The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors, and Red: A Crayon’s Story.

Advanced Praise

"Young readers will likely pore over a two-page spread that shows Stubby going through a transformation at a pencil factory, and the final page contains a twist unlikely to be foreseen by readers of any age. Richer and more moving than a story narrated by a pencil has a right to be." —Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will appreciate [Stubby’s] trials and tribulations and may just treat their own pencils with a little more care." —School Library Journal

"Facing firsts large and small, the familiar writing implement shares comedic insights into next steps for young pencil-pushers." —Publishers Weekly

About the author

Sydra Mallery has taught public school in Brooklyn for 26 years. Her second picture book, Stubby: A Pencil’s Journey is published by Greenwillow Books and illustrated by the amazing John Hare. It will be followed by Scrappy: A Paper’s Journey, coming in the summer of 2027. When she’s not writing poems or picture book manuscripts, you can find her watercolor painting, practicing her calligraphy, kayaking, hiking, singing, doing yoga, and geeking out on nature.