A National Science Teaching Association Outstanding Science Trade Book

Follow a stone’s journey through time as it faces ice, water, wind, and scorching heat in this beautiful nonfiction picture book that is Seeds Move! meets A Stone Sat Still.

“Where do rocks come from?”

The answer may be more incredible than you think! After all, a stone is not just a stone: a stone is a story. Embark on a journey across time to see how one stone can change and transform, from magma under Earth’s crust to the sand swept up by a rushing river to the very heart of the tallest mountain. Watch what happens when rain, ice, and wind mold this rock into something new, something you might even hold in your hand—something full of endless possibility.

Complete with additional information about geology and the rock cycle, this lyrical and captivating story invites readers to experience the wonder of the natural world around us, and to see—in every cliff, pebble, and stone—a window into Earth’s deep past.

About The Author

Photograph by Kristal Passy

Leslie Barnard Booth

Leslie Barnard Booth is the author of A Stone Is a Story and One Day This Tree Will Fall. She grew up in the Pacific Northwest, attended Pomona College and later earned an MFA in creative writing and an MS in education from the University of Oregon. Leslie lives in Portland, Oregon, and loves exploring the natural world with her family. Visit her at LeslieBarnardBooth.com.

About The Illustrator

Marc Martin

Marc Martin is an illustrator, artist, and book maker. He is the author and illustrator of A River, Masters of Disguise, The Curious Explorers Illustrated Guide to Exotic Animals A to Z, Max, and Lots, among others. Marc is based in Melbourne, Australia. You can learn more about his work at MarcMartin.com.

Why We Love It

“Not only is it ridiculously fun to learn more about where rocks come from, but this book transports the reader to another place and time, demonstrating through this gorgeous pairing of text and illustrations how amazing rocks can be.”

—Nicole F., Associate Editor, on A Stone Is a Story

Product Details

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (October 3, 2023)
Length: 40 pages
ISBN13: 9781534496941
Ages: 4 - 8

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Raves and Reviews

* "Providing signposts about Earth’s change from the beginning of time to the present day, Booth’s study gives energy and intrigue to objects that seem deceptively quiet and ordinary"

– Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An illustrated love letter to deep time and earth's memory."

– The Marginalian

"An attractive and informative option for budding geologists."

– Booklist

“Booth’s imaginative stories about one stone align with the major rock groups...and employ dramatic descriptions of the events the stone experiences....Readers are encouraged to seek out their own stones, “imagine everything the stone has been…and what it might become,” and consider the continuity of change."

– Horn Book