The Kitaboshi Beginning Pencil 10B has a really soft lead, making it easy to produce a wide range of shades. The pencil's softness is perfect for kids who are just starting to learn how to write. 

Kita-Boshi Pencil Co started as a lumber company in Japan in 1909. In 1944, they started making their first pencil. The company's mission is to follow the "pencil principle". The pencil principle was inspired by how a pencil sacrifices its own body to let everyone write -- and to do so, the core/lead is required to be centered precisely. While fewer people are using pencils these days, Kita-Boshi continues their mission to re-innovate the pencil industry with new products.