The Blue Stone

August 1, 2008
Gr 1-5-A blue stone begins its journey after lying in a forest for thousands of years. When people see it, they marvel at its beauty, split it into two, and take half away. It is carved into a large elephant, and even though people love the sculpture, the stone remembers its home, its heart breaks, and it crumbles into many pieces. Throughout the rest of the book, the stone is continually rediscovered and re-created into different, smaller artworks, its beauty hidden by coats of paint. Each time, its heart breaks, until it is nothing but specks of dust that float away, finally settling back in the original forest next to its other half. Similar in tone to Liao's "The Sound of Colors" (Little, Brown, 2005), this moody, atmospheric picture book explores complex themes of sadness and loss. The deep gem tones of the watercolor illustrations depict a mysterious, lonely world and effectively portray nighttime scenes. The book approaches the threshold of melancholia, but never quite topples over the brink. Instead, it is a quiet examination of time and space, heartbreak and woe, and, ultimately, a contemplation of heart and self. When shared with students, this sophisticated work could lead to discussions about creativity, the heroic quest to find one's way back home, the changes that occur on the journey of self-discovery, and the need to find one's place in the world."Shawn Brommer, South Central Library System, Madison, WI"

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