A Pocket Full of Rocks

Illustrated by E. B. Goodale
Hardcover
$18.99 US
| $24.99 CAN
On sale Jan 28, 2025 | 40 Pages | 9780593428542
Age 3-7 years | Preschool - 2
Reading Level: Lexile AD560L | Fountas & Pinnell L
A sweet and soulful celebration of how a child's imagination can transform ordinary objects into extraordinary treasures.

You can do a lot with a pocket full of rocks...

Rocks make excellent chairs for fairies, they are perfect for writing your name on the sidewalk, or just to hold in your hand when you need reassurance. And so the rocks pile up... Until the season turns and you need to make room for pockets full of petals. And shells. And acorns! Each season's treasure is kept and curated and loved, until it's time to give the treasures away and make room for new things to come.

A Pocket Full of Rocks showcases how a creative child can see big possibilities in the smallest things. It's about noticing, collecting, appreciating, and sharing the wonders around us every day.
★  "Many rich threads intersect in this seasonal meditation, including the feeling of delight and abundance supplied by natural objects, a child’s inner confidence and imagination even in the face of commentary, and the anchoring effect of an object that’s “just there in your pocket when you need something to touch, gathered and solid and cool." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"One part observation and two parts inspiration. A picture book rooted in a childlike sense of intertwined fantasy and reality." — Booklist, starred review

"A meditative homage to the creative universe inside a child’s mind—and pockets." —Kirkus Reviews

"Mahoney’s debut combines soothing, meditative prose with Goodale’s textured, mixed-media backdrops and vignettes, gently inviting readers to explore the beauty of the seasons and appreciate the joy of collecting small treasures." —Bulletin
KRISTIN MAHONEY is a former magazine editor and elementary school reading teacher with a master's degree in elementary education and teaching literacy from Bank Street College of Education. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Learning Network blog, McCall's magazine, and the SCBWI "Write This" Gallery. Her first two books are Annie's Life in Lists and The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School. Kristin lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters. Follow her on Twitter at @KMcMahoney. View titles by Kristin Mahoney
E. B. Goodale is an author and illustrator who comes from a background of printmaking and letterpress printing. She made her foray into picture books with Windows by Julia Denos, which received an Ezra Jack Keats honor for illustration and was an ALA-ALSC Notable book for 2018. She has illustrated a handful of other books for children and is the author of Under the Lilacs and Also. View titles by E. B. Goodale
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About

A sweet and soulful celebration of how a child's imagination can transform ordinary objects into extraordinary treasures.

You can do a lot with a pocket full of rocks...

Rocks make excellent chairs for fairies, they are perfect for writing your name on the sidewalk, or just to hold in your hand when you need reassurance. And so the rocks pile up... Until the season turns and you need to make room for pockets full of petals. And shells. And acorns! Each season's treasure is kept and curated and loved, until it's time to give the treasures away and make room for new things to come.

A Pocket Full of Rocks showcases how a creative child can see big possibilities in the smallest things. It's about noticing, collecting, appreciating, and sharing the wonders around us every day.

Reviews

★  "Many rich threads intersect in this seasonal meditation, including the feeling of delight and abundance supplied by natural objects, a child’s inner confidence and imagination even in the face of commentary, and the anchoring effect of an object that’s “just there in your pocket when you need something to touch, gathered and solid and cool." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"One part observation and two parts inspiration. A picture book rooted in a childlike sense of intertwined fantasy and reality." — Booklist, starred review

"A meditative homage to the creative universe inside a child’s mind—and pockets." —Kirkus Reviews

"Mahoney’s debut combines soothing, meditative prose with Goodale’s textured, mixed-media backdrops and vignettes, gently inviting readers to explore the beauty of the seasons and appreciate the joy of collecting small treasures." —Bulletin

Author

KRISTIN MAHONEY is a former magazine editor and elementary school reading teacher with a master's degree in elementary education and teaching literacy from Bank Street College of Education. Her writing has appeared on the New York Times Learning Network blog, McCall's magazine, and the SCBWI "Write This" Gallery. Her first two books are Annie's Life in Lists and The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School. Kristin lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters. Follow her on Twitter at @KMcMahoney. View titles by Kristin Mahoney
E. B. Goodale is an author and illustrator who comes from a background of printmaking and letterpress printing. She made her foray into picture books with Windows by Julia Denos, which received an Ezra Jack Keats honor for illustration and was an ALA-ALSC Notable book for 2018. She has illustrated a handful of other books for children and is the author of Under the Lilacs and Also. View titles by E. B. Goodale

Photos

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