Look!There _is__ a book and two pencils on the desk.and链接前后两个并列的物体, and前面用了'a', 所以可以知道book只有一本, 所以用is.
isthere be句型适用就近原则, e.g. There is a book and two pens. There are two pens and a book.
isbook是单数,无视其他
is 就近原则