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Laura’s e-letter for educators

Booklist Gives Rocky Love

Delighted to share that Booklist has given A ROCK CAN BE… a lovely review! “[N]atural guessing game…challenging children…broaden their thinking…beautiful picture book…” What is not to love here? Thank you, Booklist! (The highlights and bold were added by me:>)

A Rock Can Be …
Salas, Laura Purdie (Author) , Dabija, Violeta (Illustrator)
Mar 2015. 32 p. Millbrook, library edition, $17.99. (9781467721103). 552.
What can a rock be? ?Tall mountain / Park fountain / Dinosaur bone / Stepping-stone.? The ideas expressed in this picture book’s pithy text are varied and wide-ranging. Each two-word phrase appears on its own page, accompanied by a luminous illustration. While some concepts will be obvious to children from the words alone, and others are made clear by the pictures, a few (?Fire sparker,? ?Crusty dome,? ?Food grinder?) may need further explanation. The sometimes cryptic phrases create a natural guessing game, and an appended section offers a paragraph of text explaining each one. Moldovan illustrator Dabija contributes a series of dynamic full-page and double-page images created with traditional and digital media. Her compositions, color combinations, and use of light are particularly fine. Similar in concept to Salas and Dabija’s previous picture books, A Leaf Can Be … (2012) and Water Can Be … (2014), 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.
? Carolyn Phelan
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36 Responses

  1. Congratulations Laura. Exciting comments and your “Can be” books are all deserving of such. Beautifully illustrated and educational, even for this great-granny.

    1. Thank you, Martha! Are you a great-grandma, really? Or are you just kidding? You’re young at heart and in your comments, and I can’t picture you having great-grandchildren.

      1. Thank you Laura, you are very kind. Penelope (Penny) Rose was three in late September. She is the daughter of my oldest granddaughter who will be 32 next month. She owns our hearts and takes after her great-grand in her love for books. Her comprehension level is that of a five or six year old (confirmed by powers that be) and your “can be” books fascinate her. Ho hum, brag, brag!

        1. Aw, what a pretty name. And how lucky she is to have a great-grand to share books with:>)

  2. Congratulations Laura. Exciting comments and your “Can be” books are all deserving of such. Beautifully illustrated and educational, even for this great-granny.

    1. Thank you, Martha! Are you a great-grandma, really? Or are you just kidding? You’re young at heart and in your comments, and I can’t picture you having great-grandchildren.

      1. Thank you Laura, you are very kind. Penelope (Penny) Rose was three in late September. She is the daughter of my oldest granddaughter who will be 32 next month. She owns our hearts and takes after her great-grand in her love for books. Her comprehension level is that of a five or six year old (confirmed by powers that be) and your “can be” books fascinate her. Ho hum, brag, brag!

        1. Aw, what a pretty name. And how lucky she is to have a great-grand to share books with:>)

  7. Congratulations, Laura! Can’t wait to read it. You’re off to a great start in 2015!

  8. Congratulations, Laura! Can’t wait to read it. You’re off to a great start in 2015!

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