Rock
Will be published approx. on 17. April 2025
Book
Hardback
44 pages
978-1-77306-948-7 (ISBN)
Description
Award-winning creators Laurel Croza and Matt James have come together once again to tell the story of what happens when a bullying seagull and a rock meet on the beach.
When a seagull mistakes a small rock for food, it angrily spits it out. "What do you think you are?" the seagull demands. "I am a rock," the rock responds. But the seagull refuses to accept this, insisting that the rock is more like a pebble, or a stone. It predicts that the rock will be thrown into the water and sink, and even if it manages to be washed ashore, the same thing will happen again and again, until the rock is worn down to a mere speck. After all, the rock has no shine, color, crystals or speckles ... In short, it is nothing special.
But a child enjoying a day at the beach sees the rock differently, and their creation in the sand affirms what the rock has known about itself all along.
A quirky, vibrant and very memorable picture book about staying true to yourself.
Key Text Features
dialogue;illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
When a seagull mistakes a small rock for food, it angrily spits it out. "What do you think you are?" the seagull demands. "I am a rock," the rock responds. But the seagull refuses to accept this, insisting that the rock is more like a pebble, or a stone. It predicts that the rock will be thrown into the water and sink, and even if it manages to be washed ashore, the same thing will happen again and again, until the rock is worn down to a mere speck. After all, the rock has no shine, color, crystals or speckles ... In short, it is nothing special.
But a child enjoying a day at the beach sees the rock differently, and their creation in the sand affirms what the rock has known about itself all along.
A quirky, vibrant and very memorable picture book about staying true to yourself.
Key Text Features
dialogue;illustrations
Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4
Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.
Reviews / Votes
A moving, meaningful, rock-solid picture book to embrace. STARRED REVIEW * Booklist * A story about standing resolute in the face of a bully who seeks to diminish one's self-worth ... [with] a rewarding and cathartic ending. * Horn Book * The message is admirable without being didactic. ... The artwork, rendered in acrylic and ink, is extraordinary. * Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books * A beautiful book. * Winnipeg Free Press *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Ontario
Canada
Target group
Children/juvenile
Interest Age: From 3 years
Product notice
Picture book
Illustrations
Full color throughout
Dimensions
Height: 220 mm
Width: 278 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
476 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-77306-948-7 (9781773069487)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
LAUREL CROZA is the author of the picture book I Know Here, illustrated by Matt James. It won the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, among many other accolades. She also wrote the sequel, From There to Here. The Whirlpool is Laurel's first short-story collection. She lives with her husband in Toronto.
MATT JAMES is a Toronto-based author/illustrator whose books include Yellow Moon, Apple Moon by Pamela Porter (New Mexico Book Award), I Know Here by Laurel Croza (Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award) and The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson. Matt's art for Northwest Passage won the Governor General's Award. He also wrote and illustrated Tadpoles, Nice Try, Charlie! and The Funeral, a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book.
MATT JAMES is a Toronto-based author/illustrator whose books include Yellow Moon, Apple Moon by Pamela Porter (New Mexico Book Award), I Know Here by Laurel Croza (Boston Globe-Horn Book Award, Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award) and The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson. Matt's art for Northwest Passage won the Governor General's Award. He also wrote and illustrated Tadpoles, Nice Try, Charlie! and The Funeral, a New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book.