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The Rock from the Sky    by Jon Klassen Amazon.com order for
Rock from the Sky
by Jon Klassen
Order:  USA  Can
Candlewick, 2021 (2021)
Hardcover
* *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

Jan Klassen's The Rock from the Sky, a picture book about friends oblivious to impending doom, is likely to get young readers (aged four to eight) interacting with the characters.

First we meet Turtle: 'I like standing in this spot. It is my favorite spot to stand. / I don't ever want to stand anywhere else.' Next we meet a rock in the sky. Then Armadillo joins Turtle in his favorite spot but has a bad feeling about it. Uh-Oh!

Armadillo picks his preferred spot and moves to it, checks it out, returns, moves back again. Snake joins Armadillo as Turtle claims his spot is better. Since they can't hear him, he moves closer ... and the Rock lands!

Next comes a fall, rejection of help, and finding a good use for the Rock - leaning on it and imagining the future, which proves scary. Then comes sunset, danger, and ... another Rock saves the day.

My first thought about this book is that it's too subtle for very young readers, but it could be used to encourage Q & A, as in "What do you think is going to happen?"; "Why won't Turtle let Armadillo help him?"; or "Do you ever imagine the future?"

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