The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil is a book recommended to introduce children ages 8-12 to the very basics of economics. I submit it’s suitable for children as young as 6 depending on the child. If you’ve already introduced your child to certain words used in the economic language, it shouldn’t be too difficult for a 6-year-old to begin to understand some of the principles in this book. I have used this book for my children starting at age 6.
Connor Boyack does a nice job telling the story of a class of students who visit a manufacturing plant that produces pencils. The concept of the Division of Labor is the major focus. Not only does the story introduce children to how manufacturers make specific goods out of various parts and pieces, but also how the economy is a decentralized market where people and industries operate in concert to bring goods to market. These realities are aptly highlighted in the humble pencil.
The story creates a sense of wonder in children. They start seeing items not just as individual items, but as a “sum of all the parts”. They can imagine where all the parts come from, and all of the people who worked on these goods who have never met, spoken nor seen one another, yet all of their production comes to fruition in one item. This small book comes with access to a downloadable PDF workbook full of exercises and creative material the child then uses to ingrain these concepts into their thinking.
This story is essentially a children’s version of the classic I, Pencil by Leonard E. Read. I recommend that as well to parents. The Tuttle Twins and the Miraculous Pencil is a well-needed and appropriate introduction to the division of labor for children. As a Homeschool Dad who has used this book as an introduction to economics for my own children, I highly recommend it.