Published: 27th August 2019
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Illustrator: Brendan Wenzel
Pages: 50
Format: Picture Book
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars
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.
I loved this book. It is a simple story that has few words but manages to have a great impact on you as you read. Wenzel looks at how a seemingly simple and unimportant thing such as a stone can have so many uses to so many different creatures. Through stunning illustrations we’re shown that the same ordinary stone can be a home, a refuge, or an entire world to those small enough.
Every creature has a different purpose for the stone and Wenzel explores with simple words and stunning pictures; and while the stone never changes, how it is perceived is always changing. It was a fascinating look at perspective and how the smallest spaces can be the largest places depending who you are. It is a great book to realise perspective and Wenzel tells the story so brilliantly it is astounding to grasp as you see the different understandings of the same space and the same small rock.
I didn’t realise at the time that this was by the same author who did They All Saw A Cat. This explains so much because that is another fascinating book about perspective and how different creatures see the same thing completely differently from one another, and how they view it can have an entirely different meaning based on their lives and experiences.
The illustrations are gorgeous, the simple colours and the lovely feeling of nature comes through and it is stunning to look at. The best description I can give is that this is a quiet book. Nothing happens, it is all about observance, very much like you were sitting outside watching nature play out before you. It is very meditative and calming which was something I wasn’t expecting but was pleasantly surprised to experience.
You can purchase A Stone Sat Still via the following
QBD | Booktopia | Book Depository
In this wordless picture book a woman visits a park and discovers a pup hiding under a bench–scruffy, scared, and alone. With gentle coaxing, the woman tries to befriend the animal, but the dog is too scared to let her near. Day after day, the woman tries–and day after day, the dog runs away. With perseverance and patience–and help from an enticing tennis ball–a tentative friendship begins. 
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The beloved lead character from Jacob’s New Dress is back in an encouraging story about gender expression. When Jacob goes to the boys’ bathroom he is chased out because the boys think he looks like a girl because of the way he is dressed. His classmate, Sophie, has a similar experience when she tries to go to the girls’ bathroom. When their teacher finds out what happened, Jacob and Sophie, with the support of administration, lead change at their school as everyone discovers the many forms of gender expression and how to treat each other with respect.
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