If You Find A Rock

by: Peggy Christian, photographs by Barbara Hirsch Lember

Published by: Voyager Books/Harcourt

Reviewed by Yuka Mizushima

What do you remember collecting as a kid? My grandpa collects rocks and passed this interest onto his kids and grandkids. I loved bringing home neat rocks that I found. I thought of him as I read this book.

If You Find A Rock is simply magical. It has great descriptions of rocks and the things that you can do with them. One of my favorite pages was, “Or you might find a big mossy rock by the side of a long, steep trail. Then you have a resting rock, and as you sit down you feel the cool moss squush beneath you.” – because it reminded me of the Pacific Northwest (where I live). The photos are hand-tinted pictures and are a perfect match for the text. There’s a sense of peace and calmness as I read this book. All readers (and listeners) will appreciate the beauty and wonder of Nature.

If You Find A Rock celebrates the simple pleasures. Written in the second person, the repetition of “you” involves the reader and can also open up discussion between adults and children. By slowing down to really notice your surroundings, you may be lucky enough to find: skipping rocks, sifting rocks, wish rocks and anything rocks.
It’s easy to see why this book has won numerous awards such as: The John Burroughs List of Nature Books For Young Readers, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner, and a Parent’s Guide Children’s Media Award Winner. A wonderful book any time of the day, I think this will be a treasured and often requested book in any child’s library.

Armchair Interviews says: Share this wonderful book with your favorite collector or nature lover.

Author’s Web site: http://www.PeggyChristian.com