Description
STONE BY STONE
Book summary
An ingenious and moving wordless picture book that invites little ones to reflect on the power of collaboration. Through Giuliano Ferri's expressive illustrations, children will accompany a mouse who, upon picking a flower, discovers a world on the other side of an old wall. What begins as a small gesture turns into a great collective endeavor: tearing down barriers to build bridges. A visual story that conveys universal values of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation, demonstrating that walls can be replaced by connections when working as a team.
What is it about?
The story begins when a little mouse picks a flower growing on an old stone wall. As it does, a block comes loose, opening a crack to the other side for the first time. Intrigued, the mouse alerts other animals, who little by little begin to remove more and more stones, until they tear down the wall completely. On the other side, they discover another group of animals on a nearby island. Instead of leaving the stones scattered, they decide to use them to build a solid bridge that joins them. Without needing a single word, the illustrations narrate with clarity and emotion how curiosity and shared effort can transform separation into meeting.
Main themes
- Overcoming barriers and conflicts through cooperation.
- Friendship and solidarity as fundamental values for coexistence.
- The power of individual initiative to generate collective change.
- The transformation of elements that separate into tools that unite.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is especially recommended for pre-readers, aged 2 to 5, who are beginning to explore the world of books through images. It is also ideal for educators and families looking for a visual resource to work on values such as empathy, teamwork, and peaceful conflict resolution with the little ones. Its board book format and the absence of text make it a perfect tool for shared reading and the development of children's narrative skills.
What this book offers
- Encourages detailed observation and the interpretation of visual sequences, stimulating imagination and reading comprehension from an early age.
- Conveys a hopeful and necessary message about the importance of tearing down walls and building bridges, both physical and symbolic.
- Offers an autonomous reading experience for the little ones, who can "read" the story by themselves thanks to the clarity of the illustrations.
- Provides a starting point for conversations at home or in the classroom about friendship, solidarity, and how to resolve differences by collaborating.
Technical specifications
- Author: FERRI, GIULIANO
- Publisher: Kalandraka
- Language: glg
- Subject: PICTURE BOOKS
- Collection: BOARD BOOKS FOR PRE-READERS
- Binding: Hardcover
- Edition date: November 2025
- Number of pages: 24
- Weight: 306 g
Editorial review
STONE BY STONE stands out for its ability to address a complex concept like overcoming barriers through cooperation, with a simplicity and visual beauty that make it accessible even to the youngest readers. Giuliano Ferri's wordless narrative is a success, as it allows each child to build their own version of the story while internalizing a universal message. It is a book that, due to its theme and format, becomes a valuable resource for both entertainment and values education, especially at a time when the idea of building bridges instead of walls resonates with special strength.