“A stone sat still with the water, grass, and dirt and it was as it was where it was in the world.” The opening line of Brendan Wenzel’s picture book, A Stone Sat Still, sets a calm and peaceful tone for this story about different perspectives and changing environments over vast periods of time.

The stone in question may appear to be a solitary lump on first glance, but as Wenzel weaves its story, readers begin to see it from the eyes of the snail that crawls across its bumpy surface, the mouse that rests on it while he munches a bit of food, the snake that coils to warm up in a sunny spot. To some creatures it is rough, to others smooth. Changing seasons cover it with leaves, or snow, or moss.

This quiet little book has striking illustrations that include cut paper, pencil, collage, and paint. Its rhythmic lines are almost meditative, which makes it a great bedtime read-aloud. Fans of Wenzel’s They All Saw a Cat will love this story that encourages deep thinking about something as simple as a rock that doesn’t move, but lets the world come to it. I highly recommend it.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.