A Pocket Full of Rocks - by Kristin Mahoney (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Rocks make excellent chairs for fairies; they are perfect for writing your name on the sidewalk, or just to hold in your hand when you need reassurance. And so the rocks pile up--until the season turns and you need to make room for pockets full of petals. And shells. And acorns! Each season's treasure is kept and curated and loved, until it's time to give the treasures away and make room for new things to come"--

Book Synopsis

A sweet and soulful celebration of how a child's imagination can transform ordinary objects into extraordinary treasures.

You can do a lot with a pocket full of rocks...

Rocks make excellent chairs for fairies, they are perfect for writing your name on the sidewalk, or just to hold in your hand when you need reassurance. And so the rocks pile up... Until the season turns and you need to make room for pockets full of petals. And shells. And acorns! Each season's treasure is kept and curated and loved, until it's time to give the treasures away and make room for new things to come.

A Pocket Full of Rocks showcases how a creative child can see big possibilities in the smallest things. It's about noticing, collecting, appreciating, and sharing the wonders around us every day.

Review Quotes

★ "Many rich threads intersect in this seasonal meditation, including the feeling of delight and abundance supplied by natural objects, a child's inner confidence and imagination even in the face of commentary, and the anchoring effect of an object that's "just there in your pocket when you need something to touch, gathered and solid and cool." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "One part observation and two parts inspiration. A picture book rooted in a childlike sense of intertwined fantasy and reality." --Booklist, starred review

★ "[A] thoughtful read-aloud for story time or classroom settings....This heartfelt ode to childhood's boundless imagination and the treasures it uncovers along the way will inspire conversation and creativity." --School Library Journal, starred review

"A meditative homage to the creative universe inside a child's mind--and pockets." --Kirkus Reviews

"Mahoney's debut combines soothing, meditative prose with Goodale's textured, mixed-media backdrops and vignettes, gently inviting readers to explore the beauty of the seasons and appreciate the joy of collecting small treasures." --The Bulletin

"A quiet yet vibrant celebration of nature, art, imagination, and individuality." --The Horn Book

About the Author

Kristin Mahoney is a former magazine editor and elementary school reading teacher with a master's degree in elementary education and literacy from Bank Street College of Education. Her previous titles include the middle-grade novels Elfie Unperfect, Annie's Life in Lists, and The 47 People You'll Meet in Middle School. This is her debut picture book. Kristin lives in New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.

E. B. Goodale is an author and illustrator who comes from a background of printmaking and letterpress printing. She made her foray into picture books with Windows by Julia Denos, which received an Ezra Jack Keats honor for illustration and was an ALA-ALSC Notable book for 2018. She has illustrated several other books for children and is the author-illustrator of Under the Lilacs, Also, and The Moon Remembers.