You can do a lot with a pocket full of rocks.” There is repetition and constancy but also variation and surprise in this picture book as the young narrator (brown-skinned) collects rocks in winter, flower petals in spring, shells at the beach in summer, and acorns in fall. “Your mom will say the rocks are making your coat dirty. Your dad will ask where you’re going to put your other mitten. Your sister will tell you they are just ordinary rocks. But you know they are not ordinary.” Not only do their mom, dad, and sister have something to say about their choices, the child has ideas for what to do with each collected item. These vary but always include a way it can be used by the “fairies in the fairy ring.” The child also notes how each collection feels in their pocket: The rocks are “solid and cool”; the petals “mysterious and quiet and soft”; the shells “familiar and strange” in a story with marvelous descriptive language and a warm, inviting tone. The narrative’s quiet yet playful sensibility is reflected in mixed-media illustrations showing appealing scenes of the child’s relationship to nature, family life, and imaginative play. (Ages 4-7)

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.