Pencil Dog

This author has created a book which needs re-reading to realise fully the main idea behind the story-line. Pencil Dog is an imaginary friend for a little girl who loves drawing, and careful examination of the dog reveals his nose is actually a coloured pencil point. Days are never boring with Pencil Dog; he and the little girl create adventures around every corner. Each background to every spread is full of PD’s white drawings, with the girl and her props in bright, bold colours. Until there comes a day when Pencil Dog is lost, nowhere to be found, and we notice the girl’s long hair has become shorter and shorter as the story develops. When the girl finally finds PD, he is fast asleep and snoring, and his body has shortened considerably. Her dear little PD is all worn out, and one day he gets so very small he actually disappears. The girl has obviously grown, when we see her sitting, sadly alone. But she realizes she actually has much of PD inside her still as she continues to paint and draw adventures galore. The conclusion tells us that PD will never leave her, the skills they perfected together are there forever.  And there is the girl, as an adult, reading the book, “Pencil Dog,” to her daughter! Lots of collage work enhances the detailed and colourful pictures, and the patchwork endpapers cheer as we leaf through the book again.  Well worth seeking, for any child who has or has had an imaginary friend.