Review: A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel

A STONE SAT STILL

by Brendan Wenzel

Chronicle Books LLC

August 27, 2019

Picture Book

50 pages

The follow-up to They All Saw a Cat

A Stone Sat Still tells the story of a seemingly ordinary rock—but to the animals that use it, it is a resting place, a kitchen, a safe haven...even an entire world.

MY TIDBITS

Every page, every moment invites on a beautiful journey which goes nowhere and everywhere.

This is the story of a stone, which sat still. It's a concept which will have kids wondering and maybe even smirking a little before the first page. But it's a book with wonderful depth and leads listeners on a journey into the amazing world of reality...which seems almost like fantasy.

The illustrations are as dreamy as the journey itself and invite to imagination without going anywhere. A rainbow of colors meld and swirl in just the right way to let details come through but with all the vastness of limitless possibilities attached. It's a treat simply to flip through the pages and gaze.

The tale is almost poetic and while leading readers on this journey, still returns to a same, main verse—much like the sitting stone. The passage of time and the wonder of life and nature are illustrated in passing moments. And it demonstrates how changing and amazing even something as 'unimportant' as a stone can be.

This is definitely a read I can recommend and is going onto my list of favorites for 2019.



And here he is...

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.