The Book of Stone

Every stone has a story, the echo of a memory, a walk in the wilderness, a time and a place lived and loved. This book is about these stones.


Every stone has its own unique story – and everybody needs a story stone and a book to collect it in!

Mark Greenwood has collected stones of all shapes and sizes since he was a kid and now he wants to share his passion in a book (unlike all other other rock and mineral books) that explains the special connection that can be enjoyed when one pays attention to the stones that are all around us and can mean so much, if we take the time to appreciate them. Together Mark and illustrator, Coral Tulloch, have created a book that allows them to share the theme of geological wonder, solitude, special memories and places through stone.

“Each page turn feels like an adventurous step through time, creation, history and natural wonder as Mark Greenwood escorts readers through the creation of our planet, one stone at a time - explaining through poetic prose how each stone holds a story, a past, a purpose and a certain kind of magic. In this graceful way youngsters receive geographical enlightenment learning how stones are formed or in some cases, arrive from outer space. This marvellous picture book demonstrates the quiet grandeur of stone and its significance in the natural world. And each stone and word is astoundingly illustrated by Tulloch in earthy tactile tones that enhance meaning. I've never encountered such a sublimely subtle science lesson that can be enjoyed individually or read aloud. Beautiful.”

Each page turn feels like an adventurous step through time, creation, history and natural wonder as Mark Greenwood escorts readers through the creation of our planet, one stone at a time – explaining through poetic prose how each stone holds a story, a past, a purpose and a certain kind of magic. In this graceful way youngsters receive geographical enlightenment learning how stones are formed or in some cases, arrive from outer space.
This marvellous picture book demonstrates the quiet grandeur of stone and its significance in the natural world. And each stone and word is astoundingly illustrated by Tulloch in earthy tactile tones that enhance meaning. I’ve never encountered such a sublimely subtle science lesson that can be enjoyed individually or read aloud. Beautiful.

Dim's Write Stuff
This book is a poem with reverence for the place of stone in our existence. That sentence almost seems strange as I write it, but Mark Greenwood has led us on a journey of reverie beginning with one stone, and layering it with possibilities as he unfolds and reveals the many ways that stone appears in our world and through time. The language is spare and yet crafted beautifully, almost like a weathered rock itself. The illustrations by Coral Tulloch are delightful - mostly detailed pencil sketches, with variations depending on the content. ReadPlus
This poetic and lyrical narrative...is perfectly crafted for a young readership....Packed with interesting snippets of stone through the ages, this is the perfect gift for a young rock collector The Sunday Telegraph
A wealth of wonder and imagination waits for readers opening this book... Readers will enjoy working out what media was used in this book, creating such different looks on every page. -- Fran Knight Readplus
This is a lovely book illustrated in delicate and soft tones, and it is also highly informative, paying tribute to the world of stones... Highly recommended. CBCA: Reading Time

Mark Greenwood’s award-winning books examining history, myths and legends have been published and honoured internationally. Simpson and His Donkey was a CBCA Honour Book and a USBBY Outstanding International Book. Jandamarra, illustrated by Terry Denton, was shortlisted for the CBCA Eve Pownall Award, the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Patricia Wrightson Prize for Children’s Literature and the West Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards. Mark often teams with his wife, illustrator Frané Lessac, to produce books that promote an understanding of multicultural issues. Their recent titles include The Mayflower and Midnight – the story of a light horse. Mark’s latest picture book for Walker Books is The Happiness Box illustrated by Andrew McLean in 2018.


Coral Tulloch was born in Melbourne and currently lives in Tasmania. A history in promotion and illustration in newspapers led her to create a syndicated children’s page for children, appearing for over 20 years in newspapers throughout Australia and internationally. Coral studied Fine Art and then animation in Sydney and had periods at studios, drawing in Florence, Italy and in lithography at The Academy of Applied Arts in Prague. She has worked in advertising, film, theatre and magazine production, but her main focus remains with children’s literature. Coral has illustrated many fiction and nonfiction books for children. Her work One Small Island, with co-author/illustrator Alison Lester, has won many awards including the 2012 CBCA Eve Pownall Award for Information Books. The Journey was her first title with Walker.

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