WHEN YOU FIND THE RIGHT ROCK

Stones and pebbles have plenty to teach us.

Ray hands out life advice using the framework of observing and caring for rocks. After all, “it’s hard to ignore a rock.” This observation is true whether they’re the big ones that invite you to climb upon them or the small ones you stuff in your pockets. You can do lots of things with rocks, from stacking them to lining them up. Above all, readers should remember that they share similarities with rocks. People may not realize how deep the rocks that make up mountains are. “Some of their big goes unseen,” Ray notes. “But it’s still there. Like yours.” Sometimes you might see something interesting in the midst of a pile of rocks, just as you might notice something intriguing about yourself. “Any rock can be important, even if only you know the reasons.” This deft and simple text has a refreshingly original premise, exploring not the scientific aspects of rocks but rather the emotional support they can offer. Meanwhile, marvelous, watercolorlike mixed-media art draws effective comparisons between the people and the rocks they both ignore and adore. The large cast of children is racially diverse.

Rock appreciation is bound to start early thanks to this surprisingly emotional guide.