Stone for Sascha

Reviewed by: Kathy George - Gray Public Library, Gray, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: September 18, 2018

Review

As in all wordless books, the illustrations must convey the story and hold the reader's attention so the story can be heard. Aaron Becker's digitally painted illustrations pull the reader into the story immediately. They are large and beautifully rendered in hues of brown and gold. The author offers two stories in one. The first is a little girl,Sascha, and her family leaving for a vacation at the beach but without her dog, who has died. Collecting stones along the shore, she comes upon a particularly unique one and thus begins the second story- this stone's story, its origin, the path it has taken to end up on this beach and how it will soothe the sorrow of a little girl who has lost something valuable, her pet. This story has to be read more than once so the reader can soak in the beauty of both the tale and the illustrations.Use this picture book in an art class and in units using wordless books as writing prompts. this is a keeper.

Overall Book Score: excellent