The Magic Pencil (Egalité)

Margarita and her best friends, Charlie and Daniel, play together in their eclectic neighborhood. They peek over their grouchy neighbor’s fence to see a hungry cat in need. They are afraid of upsetting Mrs. Cranky, but they want to help the cat. Their neighbor is surprisingly appreciative of their kindness and rewards them with magical gifts: a pencil, a pencil sharpener, and an eraser. They use their presents to draw structures that come to life before their eyes. The three friends decide to use their magical gifts to spread joy and kindness to their community and family.

Illustrator Alicia Gómez Camus portrays a unique style of collage art that combines cartoon-style illustration with realistic images. Author Luis Amaisca includes diversity and inclusivity by having main characters with same-sex parents. I am unsure why certain words are highlighted in a bold font, or the relevance of certain events in the story. Overall, I found this book to be well-intentioned but a bit chaotic. This story is intended for children ages four to eight.