Nye, Sand and Stones is a gorgeously illustrated picture book with an extremely important message. Told in a straightforward manner with an analogy that's easy to understand, the book shows the importance of standing up for yourself and others in the face of injustice, challenging the status quo, and encouraging change where needed. Redirecting the energy used to hurt or tear down people or things into something more positive that can benefit everyone involved is essential wisdom for any age, and of course the earlier the better.

I'd love to see more picture books from both this author and this illustrator. Marion Arbona's work is absolutely stunning in the way she builds a scene, stylizes characters, chooses colors, and layers textures.

Thank you NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for the digital advance reading copy of this book.

This was such a cute book! As an adult I have worked for many companies that have the same mentality 'I don't know why we do it this way but we do'. It is hard to be the voice of change and I love that Nye stands up for her sand castles.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially as an educator. When I first started reading it, I as an adult was captivated by the illustrations. However, the content of this story was just what students need to hear. I can think of a few specific students in my class that could use this book and this motivation and encouragement to become one to stand up for what they believe in, instead of just going with what everyone else is doing.

I received an electronic ARC from Orca Book Publishers through NetGalley.
Galbraith uses two islands and one brave young woman to show young readers how behaviors become entrenched. The sand sculptors build beautiful, intricate creations that are destroyed daily by the rocks catapulted from the other island. When Nye questions this, she is told it has always been this way. Readers see her question and ponder before taking action against this thought pattern. She confronts the other island dwellers and together they figure out how to change this pattern of behavior.
The illustrations are detailed and show the beauty of the sculptures and the joy in making them. The final illustration shows what can be done when people reach out to each other and learn from and about each other. This is one to use early in school years and to revisit throughout the year.

Do you ever wonder why we’ve always done it this way? We build sand castles, and then catapult stones and knock them down. We sing songs about it, but that’s just the way it is. Until Nye asks why? And goes to do something about it. Love this story and can see a lot of wonderful discussion coming out of it. Plus I love Marion Arbona’s illustrations and these are lovely. #NyeSandandStones #NetGalley

This was a breath of fresh air that I needed right now. Maybe even what the world could use right now.

The artwork is so pretty and gentle and calming. The story is short, but gets the message across that building up, rather than tearing down, can make life harmonious for all and that sometimes we have to go against what has been done for as long as anyone can remember to change things for the better.

This book was so sweet it put a tear in my eye. Rough years require positive reads like this, let me tell you.

Recommended for ages 3-5 to adulthood. Sometimes we need to re-learn things we use to know, or refresh the ideas that keep us going and remain positive. This book is ideal for that.

5, shiny and hopeful, stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.