Full Text Review(s)
"When Buddy the bear shows an interest in rocks, Mama takes him on the Rock Trail at the Nature Center, where he learns about types of rocks, how they are formed, and the causes of erosion. Along the way, he plays with a floating rock and makes up several rock-related riddles. The child-friendly text offers plenty of information, illustrated with collages that incorporate colorful origami papers and photos. The book concludes with activities and a list of "Rocky Names," such as Flint, Michigan. Like Shells! Shells! Shells! (2006), this is a nice addition to the picture-book series in which Buddy explores nature."

"Mama and Buddy Bear from Leaves! Leaves! Leaves! (Marshall Cavendish, 2003) are back. After a short drive to the Nature Center, they follow the Blue Diamond Trail to learn about sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Wallace’s text is clear, lively, and fun. ‘Mama?’ ‘Yes, Bud.’ ‘What did the pebble sleep on?’ ‘What?’ ‘BEDrock!’ While the origami and cut-paper collage illustrations are attractive, they may be too childish for the text, and the youngsters who would most appreciate them might not understand the complex ideas of erosion and the different layers of rock. Still, the book offers a great deal of information in a few pages, which makes it useful to teachers."

"This well-designed story introduces Buddy, a teddy bear, to the science of rocks, or petrology. Youngsters can examine photos of different kinds of rocks that Buddy encounters with his mom when they visit a nature center and hike a trail. Buddy learns about bedrock, erosion, and sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. Along with Buddy, youngsters can also mentally group rocks into different types and describe where rocks are used in individual’s daily lives. The book continues with fun activities, including starting a rock collection and making rock magnets. The last page contains quotations about rocks, lists towns named after rocks, and encourages children to make up rock jokes and build rock trail markers similar to the ones integrated in this book. Youngsters will also find the realistic photos of rocks and paper cutout depictions of Buddy and his mother appealing. Because of the comprehensive coverage of the topic, this book is valuable for both school and public libraries. Recommended."