Pencils You Should Know traces the evolution of pencils over time and across the globe. From the humble, handcrafted pencil of the 19th century to the novelty writing implement of the 1990s, each object in this book tells a different story. This book features a selection of 75 modern and vintage pencils curated by pencil powerhouse Caroline Weaver, owner of legendary New York pencil emporium CW Pencil Enterprise. Pencil fanatics will find old favorites here—the original Blackwing 602 puts in an appearance, of course—and make exciting new discoveries, too. • Vintage pencils and accessories are photographed against vibrant, colorful backgrounds and accompanied by Weaver's insightful commentary. • A love letter to one of the most important inventions in human history This supremely charming book celebrates the enduring magic of the pencil. Trace the history of the pencil over time and across the globe, and discover everything you need to know about this simple yet ingenious invention. • A great book for pencil collectors, admirers, historians, artists, writers—anyone who gets excited about the new Palomino Blackwing, a perfectly sharpened No. 2 Ticonderoga • Fans of The Pencil by Henry Petroski, How to Sharpen Pencils by David Rees and John Hodgman, and The Pencil Perfect by Caroline Weaver will want this in their collection. The perfect book for pencil devotees, analog and vintage ephemera lovers, designers, and fans of CW Pencil Enterprise

The Pencil Perfect is the tangible tale of the pencil: a utensil that crafts its own story as humans use its sharpened point to write their own.

Vivian Wong shares her love of colored pencils and explains that one way "baby artists" improve their work is by copying what they see. Love Colored Pencils is designed to enable exactly this. Look over Vivian's shoulder as she demonstrates all the techniques you need to make luscious drawings in the wonderful, soft, blendable medium of colored pencil. On one side of each spread, Vivian demonstrates a technique or she colors in a subject, and on the opposite page or the next spread, you are encouraged to try it yourself, drawing directly in the book. Exercises throughout offer fun ways to explore drawing while being inspired by Vivian Wong's popular and colorful drawing style. Vivian will teach you about: Holding your pencil Pencil pressure Hatching and crosshatching Stippling Scribbling Blending Color mixing Creating tones with color How to color facial features And more! This is a book for all levels of artists who want to explore this versatile and fun medium with a colorful and talented artist, baby step by baby step. With Vivian by your side, you can't go wrong!

This the story of how a young man turned $25 into more than 200 schools around the world and the guiding steps anyone can take to lead a successful and significant life. The author began working summers at hedge funds when he was just sixteen years old, sprinting down the path to a successful Wall Street career. But while traveling he met a young boy begging on the streets of India, who after being asked what he wanted most in the world, simply answered, "A pencil." This small request led to a staggering series of events that took the author backpacking through dozens of countries before eventually leaving one of the world's most prestigious jobs at Bain & Company to found Pencils of Promise, the organization he started with just $25 that has since built more than 200 schools around the world. This book chronicles the author's journey to find his calling, as each chapter explains one clear step that every person can take to turn your biggest ambitions into reality, even if you start with as little as $25. His story takes readers behind the scenes with business moguls and village chiefs, world-famous celebrities and hometown heroes. It is filled with compelling stories and shareable insights. All proceeds from this book support Pencils of Promise.

Inspired by the hugely successful Stick Book The Pencil Book is packed full of ideas for things to make and do with a pencil. It provides a starting point for an active imagination and brings together drawing, creating, picture making, adventures, craft, games and play. It opens up a world of creativity, with plenty of photographs to add inspiration and with fun facts dotted throughout (did you know that a pencil will write in zero gravity, upside down and under water, or that the world’s biggest pencil stands at 65ft high?). Miri Flower offers creative and inventive suggestions for things to do with a pencil, including: Making a pencil-pot Mirror pictures Stamping with pencil erasers Nature walks Using pencil shavings to make an image Stone drawings Doodles Playing games Making gifts

Geof Darrow's slick, precise inks and stunning detail have amazed comics fans for decades, from his early work with Moebius; to Hardboiled, his first collaboration with Frank Miller; to the overwhelming excess of his current series, Shaolin Cowboy. Now Darrow provides incredible insight into his process by sharing the pencil drawings behind his meticulous inks in a huge hardcover collection. Featuring the pencils behind well-known covers and never-before-seen drawings alike, Lead Poisoning is a behind-the-scenes look that reveals perfectionism at its best, showing how clean and perfect the initial drawings can be, as well as the bizarre alterations that appear to happen on the fly.

Henry Petroski traces the origins of the pencil back to ancient Greece and Rome, writes factually and charmingly about its development over the centuries and around the world, and shows what the pencil can teach us about engineering and technology today.