Mostly charming illustrations paired with great phrasing and a strong line of thinking.

This is a cute story about Petra, a rock with an incredible imagination. The illustrations definitely make the story, as there is very little text. There is a wonderful message, that what appears to be small or insignificant can go on to do incredible things.

A playful story about a rock with a large imagination and aspirations. This would be a fun read aloud in the classroom that would offer a wide variety of follow-up activities.

3.5 Stars

This is a children’s picture book that talks about ‘rolling with the punches’, and not getting flustered over what life throws at us, but rather just to roll with it. Probably a book that a few adults would find helpful as well.

Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Meet Petra. She's an eternal, unmoving mountain. But, wait - a dog picks Petra up and brings her to its owner, who tosses her into a bird's nest. No worries. She's an egg, loaded with potential, once she hatches. Oops, nope... Mama Bird has returned, and tosses Petra into a lake. No problem. She's an amazing island! Oh... now, she's in a young girl's room, where she's transformed... into something new and exciting. You see, Petra isn't stressed about it: she's all about the present; experiences; potential and becoming. And that's what makes this book, and this rock, such a wonderful read. Petra is along for the journey, not the destination. She is laid back, and lives in the moment. She's happy with herself and in whatever situation she finds herself, because she's able to find the excitement and joy - thanks, in part, to her vivid imagination - in everything. Can you think of a better outlook?

This is a great book to read to kids, especially preschoolers, who are still learning to transition from one task to another. It allows for a lot of interactivity: ask questions like, do you think Petra is a mountain? Is that a really, really big dog? What do you think will happen next? Where do you think Petra will go next? Let them draw their own Petras, and see where their imaginations take them. Talk to them about emotions and feelings: is Petra angry when she gets picked up and moved? What does she do? Talk about being positive and seeing new experiences as an exciting adventure.

The artwork is just adorable. It reminds me a bit of Jon Klassen's artwork, which drew me to the cover in the first place. It's rendered in digital collage, pastels, and tempera, giving a soft, textured feel to Petra and her surroundings. The endpapers look like close-ups of rock, inviting readers to guess what they're looking at before we start the story. Think of this as Zen Shorts for the preschool set.

I'm going to read this one during my yoga storytime, for sure. Petra has starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and Kirkus. You can see more of Marianna Coppo's illustration at her Tumblr. Originally published in Italian, Petra is available in English in February.

This is Marianna Coppo's debut book. What a delightful little tale she spins. Petra is an adorable rock who is literally between a rock and a hard place. You see she never knows what is going to happen to her, where she may end up, or what she may end up becoming. She takes all of her experiences of morphing with a positive and adventurous attitude.

She is a smooth, egg-shaped rock and nothing can move her, not the wind, not time and she cannot go anywhere on her own only have everyone come to her. She sees herself as strong, fearsome, fearless, mighty, a magnificent rocky mountain. Then one day her whole world changes.

Through many experiences beyond her control she is picked up and transported into a bird's nest disguised as an egg and then into a pond where she imagines she is an island, just to name a few. With each shift Petra remains upbeat: "Whatever I become, I'm bound to be amazing!" She is finally discovered by a child who thrusts the tiny rock into her pocket and takes her home. What new identity will appear now she wonders? Why she is slathered in paint and becomes a cute green elephant with a long trunk, floppy ears and even feet. Yes!!! Does Petra worry about her new makeover? No way... "What will I be tomorrow? Who knows? Well, no need to worry. I'm a rock, and this is how I roll!"

The creator has made simple yet pleasing illustrations using a cocktail of tempera, pastels, and digital collages. Petra is an extremely adorable character with many expressions that enrich the text greatly. The book is full of imagination and humour which kids will relish. I love the book and highly recommend it. And my advice to Petra? .... rock on............

Who knew a rock could have such facial expressions. That is what a good artist can do. This is the story of a rock, who thinks it a mountain, or an egg, or even an elephant. A fun journey for the reader and the rock.

The illustrations are my favorite part. The writing could've flowed a little better.

A little whimsical and charming, it was enjoyable to watch little Petra imagine all the things she thought she was and adjust as she realized she was something else. Kids will enjoy the artwork and it could easily be used for a few different storytime themes from rocks to imagination to learning to accept change. Even though Petra was moved from place to place in amusing ways, she just decided to be something else in her new environment.

Petra is a rock that we assume has been in the same place for some time. Petra imagines all sorts of things. “I am strong. I’m a fearsome, fearless, mighty, magnificent mountain!” Even when a dog asks if the rock is a pebble, Petra continues to imagine being a large mountain. And when the rock gets tossed up to a bird’s nest the rock adapts and thinks of itself as an egg of the world, in a world of possibility. When the bird declares that her nest is no place for a rock, the rock quickly adapts to being tossed into a pond. Eventually, the rock is picked up by a girl and painted to look like an elephant. But what will the rock be tomorrow?

Cons: Though the message is a very good one, I'm not sure it's one that a very young child will understand.

Pros: A good story to open discussions about the rock's positive thoughts and it's ability to find something good about where it is, regardless of where that might be. Petra was also able to adapt quickly to change even if it took a little imagination.

what a wonderful little book! Totally in love with the little "rock".

The story is about a fun adventure of an adorable little rock defines herself, encourages herself and adapt herself. The meaning behind the story is very subtle, and one has to really take a step to think how things evolve in the story. It is fun and meaningful. Although I have to point out that the deep meaning down there is not so easily discoverable. For the "change of circumstances" or "situations", just counted the 20 reviews written before mine, only 2 people get the meaning of changing circumstances. To most people, it is a book of being able to imagine and proud of oneself. But still, it is a great book! It takes just a little bit stretch to reach the conclusion as mentioned in the book pitch.

This was a delightful book, with a story just as sweet and adorable as the lovely illustrations. I can’t wait to read it to my kids and gift it to friends.

"Petra" is the story of a rock. A rock that is a mountain! Nothing can move this rock. Except, something does move the rock. The rock is a pebble. No, the rock is an egg. An island? Oh no! The rock gets scooped up and taken home where it is transformed into...an elephant? The rock can work with this. Because after all, "I am a rock. This is how I roll." Petra is a deceptively simple narrative with the whopping moral of acceptance and optimism. The illustrations are perfect - swaths of white space with crisp, painted imagery. Close observation rewards readers with fantastic expressions on Petra as she bounds from identity to identity. "Petra" is a lovely story and is well worthy of your time.

Great little book for young kids! This little rock, Petra, has a huge imagination! It can be anything it wants to be a Mountain, a egg that hatches into a dragon, an island... The illustrations were wonderful! I'm betting some small child is going to want to her this one again and again!

I thought this was a cute little book about a rock finding it's identity. I would read this in storytime and then have the kiddos paint rocks.

This is a wonderful book about the power of imagination. Young children do this far better than anyone else by imagining everything they want to be and do and telling fantastical stories. In this title, Petra is a rock with an exceptional imagination. Her easy going and positive attitude speak to her happy nature. The illustrations are colorful, and they support and enhance the imagined storyline for the travels and adventures she has. The title would make a nice addition to the school, public or home library.

Marianna Coppo’s Petra would be a fantastic starting point/introductory text for young learners, when exploring the concepts of believing in yourself and not letting your surroundings or circumstances define you or dictate your self-perception. There is a great lesson in resiliency here.

It actually reminds me of Rebekah Borucki’s “Meditation for Anxiety and Finding Inner Peace” and her analogy of being a boat on the ocean, letting the waves (thoughts) come and go but not allowing them to carry you away or control you.

I will be recommending this book to colleagues and am looking forward to sharing it with my students, as a teaching tool.

NOTE: I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for granting me an e-galley of this book, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Who knew rocks could be adorable? This one sure manages it. A wonderful read about the power of imagination.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

One of the best things about childhood is being able to imagine you are anything you want to be. Petra is a rock who has a wonderful imagination. She also makes the best of whatever situation she is in. The illustrations are wonderful in this story and considering she is a rock, her facial expressions are fantastic. A great little story to read and talk about being whatever you want to be. A nice addition to a school, classroom or family library.

Adorable story about a rock who can be anything it wants to be.

This is such a cute book! Not only are the illustrations beautiful but I feel that the overall message is surprisingly, and pleasingly, high concept for a children's picture book. The idea that things are ever changing and how one thing can in fact be many things is an idea that I think both younger and older children will enjoy. I could see this book being used in the classroom as well as at home.