THE PERFECT ROCK

Juvenile otters learn an important lesson.

After a busy day frolicking in coastal waters, otters Ollie, Bea, and Ula enjoy a shellfish feast with their mother, who tells them they need something to help them open shells so they can feast on their own one day. Mama and Papa suggest it will take time to find the perfect rock, which must be “tough enough to break the hardest shells,” “smooth enough to dance in your paws,” and “something you hold dear, something you’ll hold tight and never lose.” Together Ollie, Bea, and Ula search until they find a rock that’s tough, smooth, and one they all love. However, with only one perfect rock, sibling rivalry rears its head when Bea grabs it and flees with a shocked Ula and Ollie in pursuit. A frantic underwater chase ensues until a swooping bird carries off their perfect stone. Angry and sad, Ollie, Bea, and Ula refuse to acknowledge one another on the swim home until a storm strikes and they all embrace tightly. Rendered in loose strokes of blues, greens, violets, and pinks, lively illustrations capture the luminosity and fluidity of the sea as well as the playfulness of the sleek little otters in close-ups, vignettes, and double-page spreads, while the perfect rock proves an ideal metaphor for the strength, comfort, and love of family. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Heartwarming and uplifting.