Listen to this story:

Once upon a time, in a colorful pencil box, there lived a Pencil and an Eraser. They were the best of friends and worked together every day in the hands of a little boy named Tommy.

The Pencil loved drawing lines, shapes, and pictures. He also wrote the most interesting stories about dragons, pirates, and magical lands. But sometimes, he would make mistakes. A line would go the wrong way, or a word wouldn’t look quite right.

“Oops!” the Pencil would say, feeling a bit embarrassed. But every time the Pencil made a mistake, the Eraser would smile gently and say, “Don’t worry, Pencil! I’ll fix it!” And with a soft swipe, the mistake would disappear, leaving the page clean again.

For a long time, the Pencil and the Eraser worked together happily. Whenever the Pencil slipped up, the Eraser would swoop in and make everything right again. They made the perfect team.

But as time passed, something began to happen. The Eraser started to get smaller and smaller. With every little mistake he erased, a part of him would wear away. The Pencil noticed this and said, “Eraser, you’re getting tinier! What will I do if you’re all gone?”

The Eraser chuckled softly. “That’s okay, Pencil. It’s my job to help you fix your mistakes. I’ve been happy to do it all this time.”

One day, after fixing one last small error, the Eraser was no more. All that was left was a tiny stub, barely able to erase anything at all. The Pencil felt sad and alone. “What am I going to do now? I’ll make mistakes, and there’s no Eraser to fix them anymore!”

The Pencil felt so worried that he didn’t even want to write or draw. He sat quietly in the pencil box, not knowing what to do.

Just then, Tommy picked up the Pencil. He began to draw a beautiful picture of a big tree with birds in the sky. The Pencil was careful not to make any mistakes, but even if he did, he couldn’t fix them without his friend.

Tommy looked at the page and smiled. “This is just perfect,” he said. The Pencil blinked in surprise. Even though he didn’t have the Eraser anymore, Tommy still appreciated his drawings and stories.

The Pencil realized something important that day: “I may not have the Eraser anymore, but I’ve learned so much from all the times we worked together. I can still write and draw, and if I make a mistake, that’s okay. I don’t have to be perfect all the time.”

From that day forward, the Pencil worked bravely on his own, knowing that mistakes were just part of the journey. And although the Eraser was gone, the Pencil never forgot how much the Eraser had helped him grow.

The Pencil went on to write many more wonderful stories and draw beautiful pictures, knowing that even without an eraser, he was strong and capable on his own.

Moral:

It’s okay to make mistakes, but the most important thing is to keep trying and learn from them.

Parenting Tip: Use this story to encourage your child to embrace their mistakes as part of learning. Let them know that no one is perfect and that each error is a chance to grow. Reinforce the idea of self-reliance while highlighting the value of teamwork and gratitude for help received.

Let’s Chat About This Story: Fun Questions for Curious Kids:

• Why do you think the Pencil felt embarrassed when he made mistakes?
• How did the Eraser help the Pencil feel better?
• Why was the Eraser okay with getting smaller while helping the Pencil?
• What did the Pencil learn after the Eraser was gone?
• Have you ever made a mistake that someone helped you fix? How did it feel?
• Can you think of a time when it was okay to make a mistake because you learned something important?
• If you were a Pencil, what kinds of stories or pictures would you create?
• Why do you think it’s important to keep trying even if you make mistakes?
• What would you say to the Pencil to cheer him up after the Eraser disappeared?
• Do you think it’s okay to ask for help when you make a mistake? Why?

Did You Know? Fun Facts About Pencils and Erasers!

1. Erasers are made from rubber or vinyl and were first invented in 1770. Before that, people used breadcrumbs to erase pencil marks!
2. The longest pencil in the world was over 1,000 feet long—about the same length as 10 school buses!
3. The eraser was invented in 1770 by a British engineer named Edward Nairne. Before that, people used bread crumbs to erase mistakes!
4. Pencils don’t actually contain lead. They’re made of graphite, a type of carbon mixed with clay.
5. The first pencils were used over 400 years ago, and they didn’t have erasers attached.
6. A pencil can write underwater and even in zero gravity, making it perfect for astronauts!
7. Erasers work by gently rubbing off the top layer of paper where the pencil marks are.
8. The world’s largest pencil is over 76 feet long and weighs more than 18,000 pounds!
9. Some erasers are specially designed to remove ink, not just pencil marks.
10. The phrase “pencil it in” means making a temporary plan because pencil marks can easily be erased.
11. In Japan, there are collectible erasers shaped like animals, food, and even vehicles!
12. The average pencil can write about 45,000 words or draw a line 35 miles long before it runs out of lead.

Activity Idea:

Make Your Own Pencil and Eraser Art!
Gather pencils, erasers, and paper. Have your child draw a picture, then use an eraser to add designs or textures by removing parts of the pencil marks. This activity helps them see how mistakes or changes can make artwork even better!

Download Free Coloring Pages Related To This Story

Bring the story to life with coloring pages designed to spark creativity and make story time even more fun. Coloring helps kids express their creativity, improve focus, and reinforce the story’s themes in a fun, engaging way. After reading together, let them bring the story to life with colors!

Click on any of the free coloring pages below to download or print it!