COVER REVEAL: COVER REVEAL: Rosanne L. Kurstedt’s STICK vs. STONE (Plus an Interview!)

COMING SOON! Picture book author Rosanne L. Kurstedt has a new picture book on the way. Published by Worthy Kids and illustrated by Agnes Saccani, STICK VS. STONES will hit shelves everywhere this coming March. The cover is just starting to pop up on the web, so I asked if she’d be my guest for a cover reveal and interview. She said yes!

First, the official blurb from the publisher:

Best friends discover that working together is more fun than being right in this hilarious picture book about a playdate gone wrong.

Sticks or stones? When best friends George and Georgina disagree over which is better, their argument escalates to shouts of “I don’t want to be your friend!” “No, I don’t want to be your friend!”, until two new friends show them a better way. As they argue, George and Georgina build grander and grander structures, resulting in delightfully whimsical depictions of castles and thrones built from sticks and stones. Perfect for kick-starting conversations about considering someone else’s point of view, and packed with wonderfully expressive characters and the humorously overblown emotions of a childhood fight, this picture book makes for a laugh-out-loud story time experience.

And now, the interview:

Laura: Thank you for joining me here today, Rosanne. What inspired the story?

Rosanne: It’s sort of a confluence of things. I’d been reading some fantastical books that included the characters one-upping each other, like Stuck by Oliver Jeffers and Shark vs. Train by Chris Barton. At the same time I’d been dismayed with the increasing polarization in the national conversation. So, I set out to create a simple yet over-the-top story of collaboration and recognizing another’s point of you. Ultimately showing that “and” can be such a powerful word.

Laura: I’m amazed, but not surprised, by how much thought you put into creating this story. It’s a fun story with oodles of kid-appeal, but also with an important reminder for all ages.

Laura: What are you most excited about for its release in March?

Rosanne: I’m most excited to visit with teachers, students, and families and discuss with them ways they collaborate and try to see another’s point of view. I’m also excited to come up with some fun activities like seeing what people can build with sticks and stones.

Laura: Thanks again for joining me here today, Rosanne. I can’t wait for the book to release. I am certain it will spark rich conversation and creative collaboration.