Book Love: A Rock Can Be...

Laura Purdie Salas has done it again!

She's come out with another wonderful read-aloud in her award-winning "Can Be..." series with illustrator Violeta Dabija:

Millbrook Press (March 1, 2015)
ISBN: 978-1467721103

Oh, I hear some of you muttering...  

Rocks..? But they just– sit there. How special can rocks be?

Let me tell you, this book is going to *rock* your world! 

Seriously, once you read this book, you'll discover that rocks can be all kinds of special.

Dinosaur bone or stepping stone...

          Hopscotch marker or fire sparker...

                    Volcano flow-er or night glow-er...

                               Seaside home or crusty dome....

With rhyming couplets that are clever and vibrant, and illustrations that are rich and absorbing, A Rock Can Be... easily meets the same high standards set by the first two books in the series:

I'm just sorry that this is the end of the road for the Can Be books.

Here's what Booklist has to say about A Rock Can Be...:

This beautiful picture book makes an excellent classroom read-aloud, challenging children to puzzle out the ideas in the poetic phrases and to broaden their thinking about rocks.

That statement could easily be applied to the other two books in the series as well, so do yourself a  favor and make sure you have the full set! 

What's more, at the back of each book is a kid-friendly informational guide that elaborates on each of the things rocks and water and leaves can be, as well as a glossary, and recommended further reading.

On Laura's A Rock Can Be... webpage, you will find reviews, a teacher's guide, a Pinterest board for educators, and you will also be able to order your own copy.  You can help celebrate the book's release by visiting Laura's blog.  Every day this month she will be featuring photographs of different rocks paired with interesting adjectives she's gathered from teachers and classrooms.  Find out which are rocks are sparkly, curvaceous, pocked, mottled, and valuable... well, actually, they're all pretty valuable in their own ways!

And speaking of good value, I'd like to leave you today with Laura's own words about this priceless series:

What these books are REALLY about, besides leaves and water and rocks, is wonder. Our world is so amazing, even the plain old things I take for granted or think I know about. But looking and thinking and wondering makes me realize, every single time, how cool the earth is. How beautifully its parts work together. How creative we can be in enjoying, using, and interacting with it.

I couldn't agree more.

Read my Spotlight ON interview with Laura Purdie Salas (featuring Water Can Be...) HERE.