Hello, friends! Today’s book is Charlotte And The Rock, written by Stephen W. Martin and illustrated by Samantha Cotterill, a sweet and unexpected story of a girl and her pet rock.

Charlotte longs for a pet of her own; any kind will do. A dog or a cat would be nice, or even a bird, she doesn’t care, as long as she can love and take care of it. Still, when her parents give her a pet ROCK for her sixth birthday, she can’t help but be a bit surprised. Still, the pet rock has its positives (it’s hypoallergenic, for instance), and Charlotte grows to love her new best friend, caring for and playing with her pet rock, Dennis, as she would any beloved pet. She only wishes that Dennis could love her back. And one night, when Dennis begins to shake and move, Charlotte might just get her wish in a most surprising way…

This one was simply delightful. The story was clever and sweet, and has several lovely messages for little readers, like being appreciative of what you are given, and being a caring and responsible pet owner and friend (even to a rock). The plot twist at the end is terrific as well. The illustrations are fantastic, using a minimal style reminiscent of older children’s books (the original Clifford The Big Red Dog comes to mind) to perfection. I especially liked that Charlotte was not an overly “beautified” little girl: round-cheeked, freckled and bespectacled, she has a unique look from many picture book protagonists that makes her a bit more relatable. The length was great, JJ loved it, and this one was just a joy to read. Baby Bookworm approved!