A Stone for Sascha
on Goodreads (1,074)
What’s inside...
A girl grieves the loss of her dog in an achingly beautiful wordless epic from the Caldecott Honor–winning creator of Journey. This year’s summer vacation will be very different for a young girl and her family without Sascha, the beloved family dog, along for the ride. But a wistful walk along the beach to gather cool, polished stones becomes a brilliant turning point in the girl’s grief. There, at the edge of a vast ocean beneath an infinite sky, she uncovers, alongside the reader, a profound and joyous truth. In his first picture book following the conclusion of his best-selling Journey trilogy, Aaron Becker achieves a tremendous feat, connecting the private, personal loss of one child to a cycle spanning millennia — and delivering a stunningly layered tale that demands to be pored over again and again.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
5-9
Length
48 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did the story make you feel when Sascha lost her dog?
What do you think the stone represents in the story?
How do you think Sascha changed from the beginning to the end of the book?
Why do you think the author chose to tell the story without words?
Can you think of a time when you lost something important? How did you feel?
Tip: Role play these questions
Explore emotions by asking how different parts of the story made your child feel, emphasizing that it’s okay to feel sad or happy.
Encourage your child to describe the illustrations and tell a part of the story in their own words, fostering creativity and verbal expression.
Discuss the concept of time and history by talking about the journey of the stone through ages.
Connect the story to personal experiences by discussing times of loss and recovery in your child’s life, which can be comforting and insightful.
Praise your child’s responses to encourage open expression and deeper thinking about the themes of the book.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Coping with Loss
Explanation: The story illustrates a young girl's journey of dealing with the loss of her pet dog, demonstrating how she processes her emotions throughout.
Real-World Application: Children can learn that it's natural to feel sadness and grief when they lose something or someone important and that it's a part of life's experiences.
Example Lesson: Understanding of Time
Explanation: The narrative spans thousands of years, linking the young girl’s loss to broader historical and cosmic events, teaching about the vastness of time and history.
Real-World Application: This helps children grasp the concept that their personal experiences are part of a larger tapestry of life and history, providing a bigger picture perspective.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: As the girl reflects on memories and finds solace in nature and history, the book showcases her resilience in facing her emotions.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to find strength in their memories and surroundings, understanding that they can overcome difficult feelings and grow stronger emotionally.
Example Lesson: The value of Memories
Explanation: The protagonist cherishes her memories with her pet, illustrating the importance of remembrance.
Real-World Application: This can teach children to value and hold onto their memories, seeing them as enduring connections to their past and lost loved ones.
Example Lesson: Interconnectedness
Explanation: Through the intertwining of the girl’s personal loss with universal historical events, the story depicts the interconnectedness of all things.
Real-World Application: Children can understand how their individual stories are linked with others’ and the world around them, fostering a sense of unity and empathy.