The butterfly has the rock who listens to it and the rock has the butterfly, so it does not feel lonely. It's an everyday thing, the butterfly rests on the rock and feels calm after a busy day of fluttering here and there. One day the rock is gone, and the butterfly is sad. This book talks about the parent child relationship and how the child feels comfort with the parent. A loving parent is definitely worth a thousand friends. It can also relate to any relationship that provides comfort where you feel heard and supported and accepted. The book also deals with the hard topic of losing a loved one, losing someone who had your back, losing someone who was your support system. It deals with grief in a subtle way. It teaches us that we lose the ones we love but they always stay with us in form of memories. While this is a children's book, I feel everyone can relate to it in one way or other.
I loved the story and the illustrations. Especially that one illustration where the shadow of the butterfly is shown is beautiful.

It was a very lovely little book, especially with the characters, who were adorable. I loved the beautiful illustrations too, and I found the story really inspiring, and also hopeful. It is a great pick me up read if you'd ever need one.

Oh my heartstrings were all just pulled with this BEAUTIFUL childrens book!! I can not say enough good things with this one. I loved the storyline, and the beautiful story behind it. Wonderfully done.

I loved the illustrations. My daughter loves butterflies and we read the story together. She may be a little young to understand but we talked about the meaning together and she said she liked the book! Cute story!

Thanks to an ARC from NetGalley my son and I just enjoyed this lovely tale about a butterfly and her friend and home - the rock.

While the deeper meaning was not something my 4 year old could decipher on his own just yet, the story and beautiful illustrations had him immediately asking for another read through.

The tale of a butterfly who loses her comfort (the rock) and later comes to find that though he left, what he left behind can still bring her comfort.

Much like the impression our loved ones leave upon our heart, though we may be separated by distance or even death, their effect on us will always remain.

‘The Rock and the Butterfly’ by Kathy Stinson is a sweet and touching story about an unlikely friendship between a rock and a butterfly. Their bond is a beautiful metaphor for the transient nature of life and relationships, making this book a poignant read for children and adults alike.

Plot: ★★★★☆

The plot is very sweet, focusing on the friendship between a rock and a butterfly. Their relationship is depicted with warmth and tenderness, highlighting how two seemingly different beings can find common ground and companionship. The story takes a turn when the rock vanishes, leaving the butterfly alone and adrift in the big wide world. This narrative arc is a gentle way to introduce children to themes of loss and resilience.

Character: ★★★★☆

The characters are both adorable and well-crafted. The rock, though inanimate, is given a personality through the butterfly's interactions and the narrative's description. The butterfly is vibrant and lively, representing curiosity and the fleeting nature of life. Together, they create a heartwarming dynamic that children can easily relate to and empathise with.

Illustrations: ★★★★☆

The illustrations are stunning and add a rich layer of depth to the story. The artwork beautifully captures the essence of the rock and butterfly's world, using vibrant colours and delicate details to bring their friendship to life. The illustrations complement the text perfectly, making the story more engaging and visually appealing.

Engagement: ★★★☆☆

The engagement level is moderate. While the story is charming and the characters are endearing, it may not capture the attention of all young readers consistently. The themes are profound, which might be more appreciated by slightly older children or when read with an adult who can help explain the deeper meanings.

Readability: ★★★★☆

The readability is great, with clear and simple language that is accessible to young readers. The sentences flow well, making it an easy read-aloud book. The story's pacing is gentle, allowing children to absorb the narrative and reflect on the themes presented.

Enjoyment: ★★★☆☆

The enjoyment factor is decent. The story is touching and beautifully illustrated, but its slower pace and deeper themes might not resonate with all children. However, for those who appreciate thoughtful and reflective stories, ‘The Rock and the Butterfly’ is a lovely and enriching read.


‘The Rock and the Butterfly’ by Kathy Stinson is a beautiful and touching story about friendship, loss, and resilience. With adorable characters and stunning illustrations, it offers a gentle introduction to complex themes for young readers. While it may not engage all children equally, its readability and heartfelt narrative make it a worthwhile addition to any child's library. This book is best enjoyed as a shared reading experience, providing an opportunity for meaningful discussions between children and adults.

A poignant tale for kids 6-8 about coping with grief after a significant loss. The illustrations are stunning!

I read this book to my four year old and we both loved it. She loved the drawings, I loved the message of the book. I don’t buy many kids books new, but this is one I will be buying! Thank you!

Thank you, NetGalley and Orca Book Publishers for this ARC of The Rock and the Butterfly written by Kathy Stinson and illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan. This book captures the wonderful connection between a rock and a butterfly. The butterfly goes about its days and always feels safe when it returns to the rock at night. They share stories and comfort one another. But what happens when the rock is no longer there at the end of the day? How is the butterfly supposed to feel and do without the rock?

The illustrations in the book are simple yet perfect because they allow the reader to focus on what the words are saying. I think this book can be used in many different and meaningful discussions with children. It could be used to discuss grief, losing a toy or something special, navigating emotions, finding peace amongst everything around you, discussing a butterfly's life, and much more.

I look forward to having this book in my library and reading it with my students this upcoming school year. I think this will be a great book for my younger students to learn about navigating emotions and how to find comfort in our day-to-day activities. I could also see this leading into my unit about butterflies in the spring and when I do mindful meditation and yoga with my students at the end of class.

#TheRockandtheButterfly #NetGalley

What a heart warming story. A butterfly befriends the rock and tells stories of the their adventures. Soon to find out the rock is gone and the butterfly is sad, but learns to find comfort where the rock once laid.

This book was absolutely precious with beautiful illustrations on every page! I can absolutely picture myself cuddled up with my little one before bed, enjoying this sweet story together.

This was a really impactful story with beautiful illustrations that tells the story of how we experience grief. How we become so familiar and connected with thing or be it people, but our time is not promised on this earth, and sometimes things leave us before their time and we have to learn to live without those things, or people whom we once thought they would always be there. But there is beauty in the simplicity of time being the healer of all things, and this told a unique way of how we experience grief.

The art in this book was absolutely gorgeous! I loved the simplicity of it.
The story started off really cute and I loved the relationship between the rock and the butterfly, however the ending was kinda depressing. I was expecting a happier ending and I started questioning the purpose of the story.
Overall cute story with amazing art.

“The Rock and the Butterfly” provides space to discuss grief at a child’s pace and terms. Butterfly relied on Rock for grounding and safety at the end of a fluttery day, and Rock enjoyed hearing of Butterfly’s adventures. When Rock is no longer in the usual location, Butterfly must find a way to allow memories with Rock provide comfort and confidence as she goes it alone. With subtly and serene illustrations, “The Rock and the Butterfly” can spark meaningful conversations of how to move forward after a loss.

The illustrations were beautiful but I think the story missed its mark. Im not sure what was missing with the story. It was cute but i didn't love the message.

This children’s book is about a butterfly that finds comfort in resting on a rock each day. One day the rock is gone and the butterfly feels lost without the rock. The butterfly must find a way to be at peace even though the rock isn’t there anymore. This is a children’s book, but has so much meaning and could be used to talk about so many topics. This would be a good book to introduce loss without directly stating it- we can still be at peace even though our loved one isn’t there in person anymore. I also really liked the illustrations. They were calming and subtle. A great children’s book!

Oh wow, what a very simple way to convey what a sure and sound "rock" can be in your life. In this story the butterfly uses the rock to confide in and to find grounding at the end of the day. The rock eventually is moved and the butterfly has to learn to ground themselves again with what the rock had left behind. So sweet. Not what I expected.

A beautifully written and illustrated book about grief that will resonate with anyone who reads it. It will help littles processes what they are feeling as they read about Butterfly and all that Butterfly goes through after unexpectedly losing a beloved friend [it will also soothe as it teaches just what and WHO can be a friend].

Simply, but powerfully told, this will stay with littles [and their adults] after the first read and I can see them going back to it again and again as they deal with whatever is making them sad.

Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kathy Stinson, Brooke Kerrigan - Illustrator and Orca Book Publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a very sweet book that appeared to touch on grief. I loved the subtlety. This was great because it’s a book that may not exactly raise obvious questions but also presents the opportunity to discuss loss if desired. My daughter really enjoyed this book, as well. And loved the illustrations.

Thank you netgalley and orca for the gifted arc.

This children’s book is so beautiful. My toddler loved the stunning pictures ❤️

The message of this story is about losing someone you love, the struggles of grief, and the healing after. A beautiful book for children.