A Rock Can Be...

Written by Laura Purdie Salas
Illustrated by Violeta Dabija
Publisher: Millbrook Press, 2015
ISBN: 978-1467721103 32 pages

Description

Rocks–boring? No way! Rhyming text and glowing illustrations show some of the cool ways rocks decorate and strengthen the world. From the tallest mountain to tiny grains of sand on a beach, from the molten lava of a volcano to the cool “ice” of a diamond, rocks come in so many forms. Take a new look at all the things a rock can be!

A rock can be a...
Tall mountain.
Park fountain.

Dinosaur bone.
Stepping-stone.

Journal Reviews

Simple rhymes and verses relate various aspects of a rock, explaining how it can be used as “a hopscotch marker” or as a “fire sparker.”

—School Library Journal

…this beautiful picture book makes an excellent classroom read-aloud, challenging children to puzzle out the ideas in the poetic phrases and to broaden their thinking about rocks.

—Booklist

The economy of language and breadth of imagination suggests a broad audience for this wide-ranging and inventive exploration.

—Kirkus Reviews

Reader Reactions

What I like love about this book: Laura's lyrical writing. The wonderful examples of what a rock can be. The invitation to go out and see for ourselves, to discover what else a rock can be. [Plus a few classroom suggestions at https://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com/2015/05/a-rock-can-be.html]

—Sue Heavenrich, Archimedes' Notebook

One of the best parts of the book is the section in the back called "More about rocks". In this section the author shares more information about each type of rock presented in the book. Did you know there is a colony of more then thirty-five thousand parrots nesting in a five mile stretch of cliffs in Argentina?!

—Gigi McAllister

This book is a gift from Laura Purdie Salas and Violeta Dabija to us. Now we need to pass it on to others as often as we can.

—Margie Myers-Culver, Librarian's Quest

Videos

Playlist

2 Videos

A Rock Can Be... Book Trailer

0:43

Rock craft and books!

5:24

Downloadable Activities

Teaching Guide

Download

Writing Project

Download

Photo Gallery

My Loch Ness rock

Aphrodite's Rock in Cyprus

Sharing A ROCK CAN BE... with librarians!

Laura Purdie Salas with Rock Can Be... scarf

More for Educators or Writers

Make Can Be... books with your students!
Pinterest board for educators
My Rock the Blog month-long series of posts showing how rocks can illustrate various words (donated by educators)
A 2-day, multi-activity rock unit from educator Andy Plemmons, incorporating research, observation, and creativity! Great photos and student videos.
Gorgeous micro photographs of grains of sand
A Can Be... book by a 1st-grade class

How this Book Got Started

This was the third book in the Can Be... series. I wanted another very common and useful object. I've always loved rocks--hunting for agates along Lake Superior's shore is a favorite vacation activity! So rocks seemed like a great choice.