Punique's First Day of School — Richard Hall

This book is about a unique pencil that's made of brass, Punique. On the first day of school, Punique has quite an adventure. He meets another pencil, Pinky, that he begins to have feelings for. Because she's not built to last (she's made of wood), Punique begins to think of a way to save her. With one of his school mate's already deteriorating, Yellow, Punique ends his first day of school thinking of a way to save Pinky.