Just One Pebble

One Boy's Quest to End Hunger

Illustrated by Sara Casilda
Published by Clavis Publishing
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

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About The Book

The inspiring true story of an unusual 9-year-old who made a difference. [...] A stirring tale of community outreach." Kirkus Reviews

Winner of the Goddard Riverside CBC Youth Book Prize for Social Justice!

One day, on his way to the store, Braeden Mannering sees a man sitting by the side of the road. He has no home, no belongings, and no food. “Somebody should help him,” he tells his mom. “You’re somebody,” she replies. Braeden thinks about it. Maybe he can help!

“Anyone can change the world as long as you dream big.” The true story of a boy who ignites awareness and provides aid for hunger relief in his community. For children ages 5 years and up.

About The Author

Like her mother and grandmother, Dianna Wilson-Sirkovsky has always loved books and cats. She renewed her love of picture books when reading to her children, Laura and Garrett, and later she began to write and share stories of her own. Now she takes great pleasure in writing children’s stories, often inspired by true events, about the joys of adventure and discovery. Dianna and her family are deeply committed to animal rescue and the ethical treatment of all animals. They have shared their lives with nine beloved rescue cats. Dianna works as a university administrator in Montreal, Québec, where she lives with her husband, David.

About The Illustrator

Sara Casilda (1988) is an artist from Madrid, Spain. She has worked in various disciplines, including illustration, graphic design, murals, and photography. In addition, she’s interested in painting, writing, and animation. Her love of the arts led her to picture books. Sara’s first book, To Bed, to Bed, was a finalist in Clavis Publishing’s Key Colours competition. Her mixed media drawings begin with charcoal and graphite, are colored with watercolors or colored pencils, and are finished with digital touches. She loves nature and is deeply committed to the care of our planet.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Clavis Publishing (September 5, 2023)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781605377674
  • Ages: 5 - 10

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Raves and Reviews

The inspiring true story of an unusual 9-year-old who made a difference. A succinct present-tense narrative channels young Braeden Mannering’s own unassuming, friendly voice. When the boy notices an older man sleeping on a sidewalk in his Delaware town, he wants to help. So he fills a paper bag with food and water and takes it to the surprised man. But then he wonders about “tomorrow”—days when unhoused people (and others) will go hungry. His mother mentions sources of assistance, like shelters, but Braeden wants to get personally involved. At a soup kitchen, he sees another boy, “just like me—only not as lucky.” Understanding that some students in his own school go lunchless sparks his anger at a patent unfairness. But he has an idea, and a couple of days later, the principal invites him to speak to the rest of the school about his new organization, Brae's Brown Bags (3B), and he recruits funding on social media. His reach expands (as his mother puts it, throwing a pebble into the water causes ripples to spread), and backmatter explains that 3B has now distributed 15,000 bags containing healthy snacks, water, and lists of local resources. Soft-edge, realistic watercolors pair well with this earnest account. Spectacled Braeden and his mother present white; their community is diverse. A stirring tale of community outreach.

– Kirkus Reviews

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More books from this author: Dianna Wilson-Sirkovsky

More books from this illustrator: Sara Casilda

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