The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life

by Jimmy Liao

Book Overview

From internationally renowned author and illustrator Jimmy Liao comes a new enchanting and evocative journey. Breathtaking illustrations and a haunting story take readers on a wondrous voyage around the world. A large, beautiful blue stone is discovered in a forest. It is cut in half, and one half stays in the forest while the other starts on a long and mystical journey through many places, many owners, and many transformations. It begins as a statue...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0316113832
• ISBN13: 9780316113830
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
• Length: 80 Pages
• Weight: 1.18 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.3" x 9.8"
• Age Range: 6 to 9 years
• Grade Range: Grades 1 to 4

Customer Reviews

WONDERFUL STORY & ILLUSTRATIONS

Absolutely love Jimmy Liao books but this one is one that my grandson adores. He has us read it to him every night -- and now, heading for the first grade, he reads most of it himself. It's a delightful book and I was reluctant to let it leave my home because it is so beautiful a book.

Beautiful book with wonderful story

This unusual story begins with a beautiful blue rock lying peacefully in the heart of the forest. The people who find it want it, long for it, and thus split it into two. One piece is taken by the people, the other stays as it is. The story follows the journey of the piece that is taken. At each stage of its trajectory, the piece of rock is turned into something different: an elephant statue, a stone bird, a sea sculpture, a golden moon, a sweet-faced stone cat, and so on. And each time, because the piece wants to go home and return to its place of origin, "its heart breaks a little," until all that is left of the stone is dust in the wind...dust that drifts across the oceans until it finally reaches its other half in the heart of the forest. The Blue Stone is a beautiful storybook about hope and rebirth. The illustrations are evocative and mysterious, perfectly matching the eerie resonance of the prose. This is also a story about time and the effect it has on things. Armchair Interviews says: This unusual book will make a lovely gift for any child.

Beautiful, Peaceful

The Blue Stone: A Journey Through Life is certainly appropriately named. We follow the sapphire rock as it becomes an elephant statue beloved by a town. Then it becomes a garden bird admired by a lady. Next on the stone's journey is a seaside town where it becomes a fish. Pieces keep breaking away and each time something new is created: a moon for a sculpture, a cat for an orphanage, a juggling ball for a clown, a heart pendant for a first love. The stone keeps breaking until it becomes dust and can return to its other half on the breath of a warm breeze. Its life is now complete and happy. The stone was reinvented many times just as people must renew their outlook many times throughout life, but for younger children I think there is a simpler message to be applied to this charming picture book. This lovely story makes a great environmental statement. Every time the reader believes the rock to be broken and of no use, a new artist comes along to fashion something new and meaningful out of it. With reuse the stone brought many people across many lands great joy just as I imagine this beautifully crafted book will bring great joy to many families across many years. For other reviews and reading suggestions, please visit my site.