Who Wants Rocks?

Nikki Tate-Stratton writes novels for preteens; her latest books are
Jessa Be Nimble, Rebel Be Quick; Raven’s Revenge; and Tarragon Island.

Little Mountain loves her life—birds, animals, and people keep her
company and she appreciates her unspoiled surroundings in the Yukon.
When Old Joe, a prospector, arrives, things begin to change. He shouts
“Gold!” so loudly that dozens of prospectors follow him to the
mountains. The men dig away at the flanks of Little Mountain’s
neighbors until all that remains of them are piles of rubble.

Despite gold fortunes being made all around him, Old Joe never strikes
it rich. He decides to play a trick on the rest of the prospectors by
standing on the side of Little Mountain and yelling “Rocks!” He
repeats his cry from Big Mountain. Of course, nobody follows him (after
all, who wants rocks?), and these mountains are saved from destruction.
Old Joe realizes that by living surrounded by beauty he has found the
riches he’s been searching for all along.

This picture book explores some fairly serious themes about humans’
interaction with, and responsibility to, nature. It could be used as a
starting place for discussions about the gold-rush era as well as the
environmental impact of mining. Vladyana Langer Krykorka’s
illustrations in pen-and-ink over watercolor washes evoke a sense of
isolation, starkness, and immense beauty. Recommended.