Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry
Publisher: Clarion Books
Genre: Children’s (0 – 6 y.o.), Contemporary
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeWhen Stick rescues Stone from a prickly situation with a Pinecone, a friendship is born. But when Stick gets stuck, can Stone return the favor?
With simple rhyming text, subtle messages of kindness and compassion, and Tom Lichtenheld’s signature charm, this delightful story about making and helping friends will enchant readers young and old because it’s never too early—or too late—to stick up for your friends.
Everyone needs at least one good friend!
Some of my favorite scenes were the ones that showed how Stick and Stone looked out for each other. Whether they were dealing with a bully or a thunderstorm, they always did their best to make sure their buddy was happy and safe. The fact that these moments were written in such plainspoken language only made them even better. There’s definitely something to be said for keeping things easy to understand for such a young audience.
It would have been helpful to have more plot development in this picture book. Even though it was written with toddlers and preschoolers in mind, I still think the author could have developed the storyline a little more deeply than she did. There were several opportunities to expand on points she made about what it means to be a good friend that would have made this an even better experience for small children as well as for the adults in their lives who read to them.
I loved seeing what this tale had to say about what it takes to be a good friend. No one is ever too young to start thinking about this concept, especially when it’s broken down to simple things that can be done at home with siblings or at daycare with other young children. The plot itself was pretty clear on the issue, but there was also plenty of room for discussion about why Stick and Stone were such good friends for little readers who might want to talk about it more.
Stick and Stone was a wholesome and heartwarming read.
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