Book Review of A Stone Sat Still
The Children’s Book Review
A Stone Sat Still
Written and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel
Ages: 3-5 | 56 Pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books, LLC (2019) | ISBN: 9781452173184
What to Expect: Time, nature, and different perspectives.
The stone is just a stone, unmoving and unchanging in the world, surrounded by grass and dirt and water… and yes, the stone is so much more than just a stone. As the stone moves through time and has encounters with the many varied creatures in its environment, the stone becomes all things to others. Sometimes it is a place to rest or hide. At other times it’s a place to play, hunt, eat, or be seen. To some creatures, it seems dark, while to others, it glows like a star in the darkness or disappears altogether as anything more than a smell. Just by sitting still in space and time, a stone can be many things at many times.
This beautiful picture book is thought-provoking, eloquent, and gently humorous, inviting readers and listeners to move seamlessly from one perspective to another as they are taken on a journey through time via the eyes of other beings. Woven through the message about perspective are other thoughts about sustainability, inclusion, and groundedness. Wenzel’s richly sensual mixed-media artwork continues these themes by inviting readers to experience unfamiliar colors, textures, shades, and angles as they meet creatures whose features are bursting with personality. The text is simple, repetitive, and rhythmic—perfect for shared reading.
A Stone Sat Still is a timeless, moving picture book from a master of the picture book form.
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About the Author-Illustrator
Brendan Wenzel is a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator based in upstate New York. He wrote Hello Hello and They All Saw a Cat, which was the recipient of a Caldecott Honor. He is a proud collaborator with groups working to protect and conserve wild places and creatures.
Dr. Jen Harrison reviewed A Stone Sat Still. Discover more books like A Stone Sat Still by reading our reviews and articles tagged with Nature.
