Rocks+in+His+Head+2



By Christopher Mann

**__Bibliographical Data:__**

“Rocks In His Head” – Carol Otis Hurst Publisher: Greenwillow Books ISBN: 0-06-029403-5 Pages: 32 Illustrator: James Stevenson Grades: Pre-K-3 Awards: Boston Globe-Horn Honor Book Price: $15.38

__Summary:__ The story starts with a young boy’s Father and Grandfather opening up a gas station. Since his Father was a boy he has been collecting rocks. In the gas station he displayed all of his rocks on shelves for his customers to see. Up until the depression the gas station was doing well and always had customers stopping by. When the depression came they sold the gas station and moved into an old beat up house. Before the family had moved in his Father set up shelves in the attic for his rock collection. The boy’s Father would never leave his collection and passion for rocks behind. On Rainy days the Father would head to a Science Museum to look at their rock collection when he couldn’t find work. Mrs. Johnson the director of the museum offered him a job as the night janitor. One morning the director saw the Father labeling a rock that was mislabeled. At the end of the story he was promoted to the curator of mineralogy at the science museum.

__Review:__ “Rocks In His Head” is a great book. The illustrations throughout the book are a great representation of what is happening in the story. For children that are still learning to read the pictures make it easy for them to follow along. The theme of the story is very prominent and sends an important message to children reading this book. The message is to never give up on what you love and believe in.

__Analysis of Literary Element:__ The theme of the book is to never give up on what you love and believe in. The theme is prominent throughout the entire book. In the book when the depression came and forced the Father to sell his gas station he did not leave his rocks behind. He packaged them neatly so they would not be damaged during the move. Before the family moved to their new house he already set up a place to keep his rocks. Although the rocks were not making him any money at the time when he couldn’t find work he kept trying and trying until he found something. By going to the museum on rainy days and looking at rocks he was able to get a job without trying. His love for rocks lead to a job at the museum doing something that he loves. If the Father gave up on collecting rocks he would have never got his job at the museum. The story tells children that they should never give up on what they love to do.

__Author Biography:__ Carol Otis Hurst was born in 1933 in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was a teacher for many years in the town of Westfield, Massachusetts. She taught pre-K through third grade. She is a nationally known lecturer, storyteller, language arts consultant and author. She taught at many university and colleges around the country to spread her knowledge on literature and story telling. She died on January 22, 2007.

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