Two things I have noticed about this journey so far with charcoal: 

1) it’s the first time I’ve really felt like a kid in my adult life and,
2) I love chatting with kids at markets about the types of art they like to do. I always encourage them to try charcoal, but all the supplies can start to add up. So, the idea for a starter kit was born. 

Each 'Happy Hands' kit includes:

• one mini pad of paper
• one compressed black charcoal brick 
• one compressed white charcoal brick 
• one piece of willow or vine charcoal 
• one paper blending stump 
• one kneaded rubber eraser
• one hypoallergenic hand wipe (yup, it’s messy!)

I’m recommending this for ages 5 and up (and probably with adult supervision) because, well, don’t eat it; and it’s messy.