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The Tuttle Twins (Ethan and Emily) have never given much thought to where the everyday items that surround them come from. When their teacher proposes a class field trip where they can choose where to go, the winning suggestion is to go to a factory that makes some of their school supplies. The children are expecting a whimsical experience and are greeted with a drab brick building instead. However, once inside it, their perspective is challenged in unexpected ways. Their tour guide tells them that a simple pencil is extremely hard to make and that nobody there actually knows how to make one. The class is in disbelief until they learn about all of the different materials and processes that have to be coordinated from across the globe in order to put together one simple pencil at this unassuming factory.
Most teachers or parents would probably think that getting their children to read a book about economics or supply chains would be an impossible task, but the conceit, tone, and illustrative style of this short story pull it off. The pictures are bright, colorful, modern, and full of personality, giving even the background characters and locations a personality that draws attention. The story itself is incredibly easy to digest and comprehend for young readers, introducing them to ideas like the division of labor and the free market. Children will come away from this book with a better understanding of what it takes to make modern society function the way that it does and probably a curious eye towards all of the goods they use as they consider all the expertise, resources, and agreement it takes for the economy to work the way it does.