11/24/25

Book of the Week (11/24/2025)

When You Find the Right Rock by Mary Lyn Ray (Chronicle Books, 2024)

Somewhere, a rock is waiting for you. One just the right color for your windowsill, or just the right shape for drawing a face.

Maybe it is a rock from the heart of a mountain that will remind you of how big YOU are inside, too. Maybe it is a rock washed by the sea that knows all about the backs and forths and ups and downs of things. Maybe it is a small rock, just the right size to close your hand around and know that the rock is with you and it is just right.

Through vibrant illustration and evocative text, When You Find the Right Rock carries readers along on a journey of discovery, from the mountains to the sea, that’s all about learning the beauty of being in the moment, connecting with nature, and the thrill of finding a precious keepsake to call your own.

COOL ROCKS: Whether it’s a special pebble for a pocket or a colorful collection in a box, rocks offer a special kind of companionship and a portable and lasting connection with the natural world.

MINDFULNESS FOR KIDS: Our connections with nature reduce stress and increase happiness and resilience. This book is an ode to the presentness that we find in the natural world.

NATURE BOOK FOR ALL: A love of the natural world is easy to instill in kids, and it’s so rewarding—both intellectually and emotionally. Here is a wonderful reminder that when we see ourselves in nature, we get in touch with our own depth and texture and lastingness.

Perfect for:

Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of children who love the natural world

Teachers and librarians looking for a poetic picture book on rocks and nature

Anyone who has found the secret joy of a special rock

Readers of A Stone Sat Still, A Rock Is Lively, and Ricky, the Rock That Couldn't Roll

--Publisher's blurb

About the author:

Mary Lyn Ray is a children's book author, conservationist, and historic preservationist. In 1984, she bought an old farm and farmhouse in South Danbury, New Hampshire, which would inspire many of her future books. Ray's 2011 book 'Stars' was nominated for The E.B. White Read Aloud Award. 'Go to Sleep, Little Farm' and her 2015 book 'Goodnight, Good Dog' received Charlotte Zolotow Award commendations. Ray has also received several commendations for her conservation work, including New Hampshire Conservationist of the Year in 1989.

No comments: