Short Story of a Pencil in English for Kids

Short stories are an excellent way for young minds to develop their moral compass, and broaden their horizons. Bedtime tales help kids sharpen their imaginative skills, thereby improving their cognitive abilities. In this article, we will discuss the Story of a Pencil, which revolves around a little boy Raj and a conversation he had with his grandmother. The tale is brimming with important life lessons, such as self-reliance, having faith in oneself, and being compassionate to others as well as to ourselves. We will be going through the short story in simple and graspable language for the better understanding of children.

Origin of the Story of a Pencil 

Although the Story of a Pencil author is unknown, and the tale does not have a specific origin, we can associate its broader theme with age-old proverbs, such as ‘God helps those who help themselves,’ ‘Where there is a will, there is a way,’ and ‘Charity begins at home.’ In addition, the story is also emblematic of traditional Indian folktales where the main protagonists are a grandparent and their grandchild.

The Story of the Pencil Summary 

The Story of a Pencil begins with a little boy named Raj who is upset, as he could not score as per his expectations in an English test. He was sitting inside his room pensively when his grandmother came to comfort him. Raj’s grandmother sat beside him and gave him a pencil, which puzzled Raj. He said that he did not deserve the pencil, as he did not score well in his pencil. But, the grandmother replied that Raj could learn many things from a pencil. Just as the pencil experiences the aching sensation of being sharpened, Raj too will have tribulations in life if he wants to become a good student. Likewise, the strength of the pencil comes from within, and Raj must also find that power in himself to overcome all hurdles of life.

Finally, in the Story of the Pencil PDF, the grandmother tells Raj that a pencil leaves a mark on a surface, and he too can similarly leave a mark on this world through efforts, hard work, and dedication. Hearing his grandmother's comforting words, Raj felt peace in his  heart and promised her that he would do better.

A Pictorial Representation of Raj and his Pencil

The Story of the Pencil Moral Lesson 

The Story of the Pencil moral less encapsulates themes such as being hardworking, not giving up, and also being compassionate to oneself. Just like the pencil that has to be sharpened to retain its optimal pointedness, we also have to undergo various ordeals to become the best version of ourselves. The important thing is to not give up, and keep striving until we get our desired results. Lastly, another important moral lesson that we can learn from the Story of the Pencil PDF is to be kind to ourselves, no matter how difficult the situation is.

Often, in the race to become successful or achieve something, we are too hard on ourselves, even when there is a tiny mistake. We have to train our minds to avoid such a mindset. For instance, the grandmother gifted Raj a pencil even when he did not do well in the test as a sign that we all deserve to be loved and appreciated, irrespective of our failures and achievements.

Note to Parents 

Short stories are a way for young minds to learn about the world in a fun and exciting fashion. What textbooks cannot do, short tales can achieve through their fascinating world-building, and relatable narratives. In addition, children also learn good manners and other valuable life lessons through stories. For example, the Story of the Pencil PDF enables kids to grasp the significance of being competitive and yet kind to oneself. Thus, teachers and parents should go the extra mile to ensure that their kids are inculcating the habit of reading stories.