Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld

Reviewed by Lori
Stick And Stone
Title: Stick and Stone

Authors: Beth Ferry and Tom Lichtenheld

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 109290

Description: Stick and stone are both lonely until Pinecone's teasing causes one to stick up for the other, and a solid friendship is formed.




Curriculum Links: 

  • Anti-Bullying
  • Equity and Diversity
  • Character Education: Empathy
  • Reading: Transforming
  • Reading: Visualization
  • Social Studies: Feelings
  • Writing: Word Choice



Notes: 

 Design: This is a lovely designed square format picture book.  The end pages are white with the first inner page showing a stick laying at the base of a tree.  The smiles of stick and stone on the cover are reflective of children and the text on the back exemplifies the theme of the book -- "Meet stick and Stone.  They stick up for each other, because friends rock!"  And these friends certainly do.

Contents: Stick and stone, lonely and alone, until stone is teased by a little pinecone.  That's when stick, sticks up for stone, and a friendship is formed.  This story is an excellent one to discuss empathy and friendship.  The things stick and stone do together are things many children do - adventure, explore, play at the shore etc.  And when separated, come together again in the end.  I appreciated that the prickly pinecone makes another appearance at the end of the book to apologize to stone.  And it appears as if they all could be friends.

Recommended Audience:  Kindergarten to Grade 8

  • Great Book for discussing anti-bullying and empathy
  • Simple text and illustrations make it appealing to a younger audience
  • Word play and theme make it a good title for older audiences 


Inquiries and Activities: 

  • Use pastels and art paper to make your own pictures of stick and stone.   What are they doing?  What games might they enjoy together?
  • Why do you think the authors chose to use a stick and stone as characters in the book?
  • Think about words that have more than one meaning.  What are these words called?  How does the word play help you connect to the story?
  • What would you do if you saw someone being teased?  What could you do to help?
  • Can you empathize with stone?  Has anyone ever made fun of you?  

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