Rock

浜辺にたたずむ岩。
空からカモメがやってきて、岩をエサと間違えてくわえます。
「お前はなんなんだ！」
カモメは怒って岩を吐き出しました。
「わたしは岩だ」
と岩がこたえます。
けれどもカモメは、
「お前はただの小石だ。水に投げ込まれ、波に流され、やがて消えてしまう」
と言い放ちます。
カモメたちは何度も何度も岩の存在を否定し続けます。
一方、そんな浜辺では子どもが浜遊びをしていて……。

カモメたちにその存在を否定され続ける岩と、かたくなに自己肯定を続ける岩。
決して折れないその岩の心はとても強いですが、第三者である子どもの存在があるからこそ、その自己肯定も輝くのだと思います。

ミュージシャンでもあるマット・ジェームズの絵本です。
躍動感あふれるイラストも魅力的ですね！

Rock
by Laurel Croza (Author)
Illustrated by:Matt James
Format:Hardback 44 pages, Full color throughout
Publisher:Groundwood Books Ltd ,Canada
ISBN:9781773069487
Published:17 Apr 2025
Weight:480g
Dimensions:219 x 276 (mm)
Pub. Country:Canada

Description
Award-winning creators Laurel Croza and Matt James have come together once again to tell the story of what happens when a bullying seagull and a rock meet on the beach. 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. Key Text Featuresdialogue;illustrationsCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.4Ask and answer questions about unknown words in a text.