The Memory Stone

Sylvia Pantaleo is an assistant professor of education specializing in
children’s literature at Queen’s University in Kingston.

Laura is having her first sleepover and things are different at Aunt
Pat’s—the bed is bigger and there is no night-light, no cornflakes
for breakfast, and no television to watch. Laura is unhappy and wants to
go home, but when she accidentally discovers her Aunt Pat’s memory
stones, the little girl’s curiosity is piqued. Aunt Pat and Laura
spend the day by the sea and through her experiences at the beach, Laura
discovers the meaning of a memory stone.

In many ways, the story entails characteristics of the journey
archetype. By the end of the story, readers see how Laura has changed in
several ways as a result of her experiences at her Aunt Pat’s.

Reader engagement is enhanced by the great variation in the layout of
the pages. Ouellet includes text-extending detail in her textured
watercolor illustrations. Recommended.