When a seagull mistakes a small rock for food, it angrily spits it out. "What do you think you are?" the seagull demands. "I am a rock," the rock responds. But the seagull refuses to accept this, insisting that the rock is more like a pebble, or a stone. It predicts that the rock will be thrown into the water and sink, and even if it manages to be washed ashore, the same thing will happen again and again, until the rock is worn down to a mere speck. After all, the rock has no shine, color, crystals or speckles … In short, it is nothing special.

But a child enjoying a day at the beach sees the rock differently, and their creation in the sand affirms what the rock has known about itself all along.

A quirky, vibrant and very memorable picture book about staying true to yourself. (From Groundwood Books)

Laurel Croza is a Toronto-based writer. Her previous books include the picture books I Know Here, illustrated by Matt James, which won the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book Award, From There to Here and the short story collection The Whirlpool.

Matt James is an illustrator and a writer, based in Toronto. He illustrated the picture books I Know Here by Laurel Croza, Yellow Moon, Apple Moon by Pamela Porter and The Stone Thrower by Jael Ealey Richardson. He also wrote and illustrated Tadpoles, Nice Try, Charlie! and The Funeral.