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.
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.
| Published By | Groundwood Books Ltd — Mar 4, 2025 |
| Specifications | 44 pages | 10.875 in x 8.625 in |
| Keywords | objects come to life; talking animals; beauty in nature; outdoor adventure; summer activities; mindfulness; perspective; identity; individuality; acceptance; belonging; fitting in; finding your place; onomatopoeia; |
| Written By |
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. |
| Illustrated by |
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. |
| Written By |
|
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. |
| Illustrated by |
|
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. |
| Audience | ages 3 to 6 / grades P to 1 |
| Key Text Features | dialogue; illustrations |
| Common Core |
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4 |