– Will An Optimistic Rock End Up Changing Its Attitude? –
Author: Marianna Coppo
Illustrator: Marianna Coppo
Publisher: Tundra Books, Penguin Random House, (February 6, 2018)
- Pages: 48
- Ages: 3 – 7
Petra is a smooth rock that we assume has been in the same place for some time. The rock imagines all sorts of things.
“I am strong. I’m a fearsome, fearless, mighty, magnificent mountain!”
Eventually, a dog picks Petra up and carries the little rock to a boy with a slingshot.
“Is that a pebble?”
“Woof!”
When Petra goes zinging up to a bird’s nest (presumably by the slingshot) the rock adapts quickly and thinks of itself as an egg of the world, in a world of possibility.
When the bird declares that her nest is no place for a rock, Petra quickly adapts to being tossed into a pond.
“Well, they say no egg is an island . . . / But what an amazing island I am! / What a paradise!”
Eventually, Petra is picked up by a girl and painted to look like an elephant. Will this little optimistic rock start finally
give up and start changing its attitude about all this change?
My Thoughts
What Concerned Me: Though the message is a very good one, I’m not sure it’s one that a very young child will
comprehend without some help.
What I Liked Most: A good story to open discussions about how Petra had positive thoughts and always
found something good about where it was. Petra was also able to adapt quickly to change even if it took a little
imagination.
Marianna Comppo
I am Marianna, nice to meet you. I was born in Rome. In 2012 I landed at MiMaster of editorial illustration of Milan, since then I have not stopped drawing. I like tiny things, children’s books, mayonnaise and unexpected travel.
