Welcome to Perfect Picture Book Friday, Everyone!
Today, we have a Perfect Picture Book that will encourage you and your little listeners to get outside and explore the world, and what a beautiful time of year it is to do that!
Author Audrey Sauble has a selection of books for kids who are curious about nature. If you like the look of this one, I encourage you to check out her other books as well!
Title: Can A Rock Grow?
Written & Illustrated By: Audrey Sauble
Publisher: Larch Books, August 18, 2026, nonfiction
ISBN#: 978-1946748287
Suitable For Ages: 4-8
Themes/Topics: geology, rock formation
text and illustration copyright Audrey Sauble 2026, Larch Books
Opening:
“Have you ever watched a rock
grow?
(Most people haven’t.)
Usually, we see rocks changing and
breaking, not growing.
But where did all
these rocks come from?
How do rocks grow?
Well. . .“
text and illustration copyright Audrey Sauble 2026, Larch Books
Brief Synopsis: [from the publisher] “Imagination . . . Science . . . . . . and a gorgeous assortment of rocks, minerals, and fossils . . . Can a Rock Grow? offers kids a beautifully illustrated, fact-filled introduction to geology for kids and their families.”
text and illustration copyright Audrey Sauble 2026, Larch Books
Links To Resources: the book has great back matter to explore, and here are some other great resources: a list of rockhound activities from the author’s website, Can A Rock Grow? A STEM Coloring and Activity Book, rock hunt activity pages
text and illustration copyright Audrey Sauble 2026, Larch Books
Why I Like This Book: This book is a wonderful, informative, accessible introduction to geology for kids. In simple terms, it talks about how rocks are formed from magma or layers of mud and silt or crystals of different shapes and kinds. How some rocks form sharp edges when they break, and other rocks develop holes, while still others are formed from things like trees which fossilize. How tree roots, water, wind, and gravity can affect the growth of rocks. All the explantations are straightforward and illustrated clearly and beautifully so that it all makes sense. Back matter provides a glossary of geology terms, a kind of scavenger hunt challenge for kids to see what kind of rocks they can find outside, directions for making your own geologist kit, and some simple tests you can do to find out more about rocks. A great choice for kids who like to learn about the world around them or are curious about rocks.
I hope you enjoy it as much as I do 😊
For the complete list of books with resources, please visit Perfect Picture Books.
PPBF folks, please add your titles and post-specific blog links (and any other info you feel like filling out 😊) to the form below so we can all come see what fabulous picture books you’ve chosen to share this week!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! 😊
Audrey Sauble is a children’s author and science illustrator with a passion for exploring nature through picture books. Her newest book, Can a Rock Grow?, is the third book in her Early Science Questions series. Other titles include Can A Tree Be Blue?, Can A Spider Be Fluffy?, Who Laid The Egg?, Acorn Party: A Mixed-Up Counting Story, and A Bee Or Not A Bee? You can find Audrey on her website, aesauble.com, or follow her account @kidlitandsteam on Facebook and Instagram.
Author Audrey Sauble
My granddaughters loves rocks (as I did at their age) so I can see them being thoroughly engrossed in this book. Good job, Audrey!
I hope your granddaughters get a chance to read it, Brenda!
Thank you, Brenda!
Susanna and Audrey this book sounds amazing. What an enticing way to introduce geology to kids. I love your illustrations! Thank you for featuring this on Susanna, it’s on my TBR list.
Audrey did such a great job of making the information interesting and accessible for young readers, Maria. I’d like to read some of her other titles!
Aww–thanks! I think I’d sent you a link to the digital ARC. Let me know if you need me to send that again.
This looks great! Congratulations, Audrey!
I hope you get to read it, Marcia!
Thank you, Marcia! Really appreciate that.
oh, I love rocks and I love the creative question that reading this book will answer! looks amazing!!!
It’s very interesting, Mona, and the back matter is terrific!
Thank you, Mona! I think everyone loves rocks. ❤
The title alone makes me want to open the book and read it!
Me too, Melissa! It seems so improbably – CAN a rock grow??? Just makes you want to open the book and find out!
Oh, that’s so fun to hear! I hope you are able to read it. ❤
Love the series premise, Audrey! Elementary teachers definitely need these in their classrooms! Congratulations!
I agree, Kim! This title is interesting and engaging, and makes me want to read the others!
I love this and I am definitely going to check out Audrey’s other books. Especially the one Can A Tree Be Blue?
Thanks for sharing
I know, Deb! I saw that one and instantly wanted to know CAN a tree be blue? And HOW?!
Your story is super cool. It’s educational fun! Congrats Audrey:)
It takes a deft writing hand to make nonfiction fun and easily understandable, Sheri, and Audrey has done both!
Thank you, Sheri!
What a great book – it could teach me a thing or two! 🙂
I definitely learned some things, Jodie! (Some of which I PROBABLY should have known from taking geology in 7th grade science, but we won’t mention that 🙂 )
I have always loved rocks, collecting them, fascinated by their shape and layers. I took geology in college for my science credit. I wish I had this book as a child, so I must get this one for [me] a child in my life.
It’s great to have kids in your life that allow you to pretend you’re getting PBs for them 🙂 I hope you and whatever child you choose will enjoy the book!
Susanna! This book is sooo up my alley! Thanks for putting it in the spotlight! Will be adding it to my TBR list.
Yay! I’m so glad you like it, Jilanne!
Yay, Audrey!! I love seeing more STEM books, and this looks like such a great one. I know so many kids have asked their parents if rocks grow! Congratulations!!
Hopefully your library will have this, Andi!
Thanks, Andi!
What a wonderful introduction to geology. Congratulations, Audrey! Thanks for highlighting it, Susanna.
My pleasure, Patricia! I’m glad you like it!
Oh, this sounds good! It makes me think of the year I gave my young grands little shovels and rocks. They “planted” them. And they grew, because I’m still picking them out! LOL
Aww–that sounds so fun! Kids always love playing with rocks. ❤
Great title – and fascinating facts. Thanks for highlighting this book.
My pleasure, Robin! Glad you like it!