Upcoming Picture Book. Published by Groundwood Books. March 2023
Alice keeps a perfectly round skipping stone in her pocket to remember her grandfather by — but the stone goes missing.
It looked just like a regular stone, but Alice knew it was different: It was perfectly round so you could use it to trace circles, and sometimes she could trick her dad into thinking it was a quarter. It was also how Alice remembered her grandpa, who taught her how to skip stones, and who passed away last winter.
Alice brings the stone to school for Show and Share, but when her classmate asks to see it again at recess, Alice discovers that the stone is gone! Her friends search high and low and can’t find the stone—but their friendship gives Alice an idea of another way that she can remember.
A gentle look at loss, grief, and how small everyday actions can connect us to those we love.
“Art in a muted palette, an inspired layout, and accessible text work together to tell a quiet yet complex
tale that deals candidly with grief, kindness, and one child’s creativity and resilience—without
undue sentimentality.” - Kirkus Reviews“Readers will find the topic of childhood grief is handled gently here and human connections are celebrated.” - School Library Journal