Each reading was met with gleeful giggles of pure enjoyment from my three year old (and perhaps one or two from myself if I'm completely honest).
Charlotte wishes for a pet more than anything else in the world. She doesn't much mind what her pet is, just so long as it is hers. On her sixth birthday, her wish finally comes true. Sort of.
For on her birthday, Charlotte's parents gleefully present her with her very own pet... rock. Though it is not exactly what she expected, Charlotte makes the best of the situation and although facing some troubles along the way, such as taking her pet rock for a walk, she does come to truly love her pet rock. She only wishes that it could love her back.
Martin's words are limited to one or two lines per page, making 'Charlotte and the Rock' very suitable to read to children from 3 through to 7. The text and illustrations work in unison to deliver perfectly timed dry humour throughout, and it is this combined with the almost sepia toned illustrations that are brought to life with splashes of reds and teals, that saw me swiftly falling in love with this book.
I also fell completely in love with Charlotte herself. She is such a warm, caring, honest, and unassuming character, and Cotterill has managed to simply and effectively convey so many every day kid emotions through Charlotte's little freckled cheek, bespectacled round face.
Be sure to keep your eye out for Charlotte's Pet Rock Rules on the back cover in case you're thinking about getting a pet rock of your very own.
Pure delight!
Title: Charlotte and the Rock
Author: Stephen W. Martin
Illustrator: Samantha Cotterill
Publisher: Random House Australia, $19.99
Publication Date: 3 April 2017
Format: Hardback
ISBN: 9780143785309
For ages: 3+
Type: Picture Book