PLYMOUTH ROCKS! The Stone-Cold Truth written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Sam Streed is a picture book of stories, legends and facts about the famous Plymouth Rock. The stories are told by the 400 years-old Plymouth Rock himself and then corrected when necessary by a youthful fact checker with a clear head and bright red pen.

Plymouth Rock believes many of the half-truths about his life. He adopts the stories handed down from one generation to another about his existence. For instance, he claims that the Pilgrim fathers all stepped up on the Plymouth rock when they came ashore. He also doesn’t seem to understand that the New World, as the Pilgrims called it, was where Native Peoples had lived for thousands of years!

Our diligent fact checker corrects misspoken thoughts and cleans up the history. She even adds the fact that the Plymouth Rock has been moved so many times that it has suffered many falls, breaks and cracks. “Today, Rock is one third to one half its original weight and measures approximately 4.5 feet long, 2.5 feet wide and 2 feet tall.” Visually not at all what one would expect.

Plymouth Rock tells his story in easy rhymes that roll along from one event to the next with such titles as Rock and Roll, Rock Bottom and Rock Star. The illustrations, said to be doodled on paper and digitally colored, are friendly, and full of smiles for young readers.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS! The Stone-Cold Truth written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Sam Streed is a gentle introduction to fact-based history for readers 5-8 years of age (Charlesbridge, 2020).

The Children’s Bookshelf is a production of WCMU. Links to the podcast and the activity questions, ideal for home use, can be found at Children’s Bookshelf dot org.

Activity Questions for PLYMOUTH ROCKS

Older readers: Plymouth Rock has many stories about himself that were not totally true. That can happen when stories are handed down from one person to another. Have you ever had something happen to you that when you told a friend or a sibling it actually got somewhat changed? Think about it. What event or experience became bigger, funnier or scarier with each telling? Record your experience with such slightly changed facts in a notebook where you can keep track of them over time.

The author says the Plymouth Rock had five spills since 1620. Go back through the story and make a time sheet of Rock’s spills and falls. Include when it happened, where it took place and why it was being moved. Then check your facts by going to online sites that speak to the Rock’s travels and spills. The author also includes some online sites at the back of this book where you can GET THE FACTS.

Young readers: Re-read Rock’s poems aloud. (parents can help) Which is your favorite? Why? Draw your own picture/ illustration for the poem you like best of all.

This is the Children’s Bookshelf and I’m Sue Ann Martin

PLYMOUTH ROCKS! The Stone-Cold Truth written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Sam Streed is a picture book of stories, legends and facts about the famous Plymouth Rock. The stories are told by the 400 years-old Plymouth Rock himself and then corrected when necessary by a youthful fact checker with a clear head and bright red pen.

Plymouth Rock believes many of the half-truths about his life. He adopts the stories handed down from one generation to another about his existence. For instance, he claims that the Pilgrim fathers all stepped up on the Plymouth rock when they came ashore. He also doesn’t seem to understand that the New World, as the Pilgrims called it, was where Native Peoples had lived for thousands of years!

Our diligent fact checker corrects misspoken thoughts and cleans up the history. She even adds the fact that the Plymouth Rock has been moved so many times that it has suffered many falls, breaks and cracks. “Today, Rock is one third to one half its original weight and measures approximately 4.5 feet long, 2.5 feet wide and 2 feet tall.” Visually not at all what one would expect.

Plymouth Rock tells his story in easy rhymes that roll along from one event to the next with such titles as Rock and Roll, Rock Bottom and Rock Star. The illustrations, said to be doodled on paper and digitally colored, are friendly, and full of smiles for young readers.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS! The Stone-Cold Truth written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Sam Streed is a gentle introduction to fact-based history for readers 5-8 years of age (Charlesbridge, 2020).

The Children’s Bookshelf is a production of WCMU. Links to the podcast and the activity questions, ideal for home use, can be found at Children’s Bookshelf dot org.

Activity Questions for PLYMOUTH ROCKS

Older readers: Plymouth Rock has many stories about himself that were not totally true. That can happen when stories are handed down from one person to another. Have you ever had something happen to you that when you told a friend or a sibling it actually got somewhat changed? Think about it. What event or experience became bigger, funnier or scarier with each telling? Record your experience with such slightly changed facts in a notebook where you can keep track of them over time.

The author says the Plymouth Rock had five spills since 1620. Go back through the story and make a time sheet of Rock’s spills and falls. Include when it happened, where it took place and why it was being moved. Then check your facts by going to online sites that speak to the Rock’s travels and spills. The author also includes some online sites at the back of this book where you can GET THE FACTS.

Young readers: Re-read Rock’s poems aloud. (parents can help) Which is your favorite? Why? Draw your own picture/ illustration for the poem you like best of all.

This is the Children’s Bookshelf and I’m Sue Ann Martin

PLYMOUTH ROCKS! The Stone-Cold Truth written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Sam Streed is a picture book of stories, legends and facts about the famous Plymouth Rock. The stories are told by the 400 years-old Plymouth Rock himself and then corrected when necessary by a youthful fact checker with a clear head and bright red pen.

Plymouth Rock believes many of the half-truths about his life. He adopts the stories handed down from one generation to another about his existence. For instance, he claims that the Pilgrim fathers all stepped up on the Plymouth rock when they came ashore. He also doesn’t seem to understand that the New World, as the Pilgrims called it, was where Native Peoples had lived for thousands of years!

Our diligent fact checker corrects misspoken thoughts and cleans up the history. She even adds the fact that the Plymouth Rock has been moved so many times that it has suffered many falls, breaks and cracks. “Today, Rock is one third to one half its original weight and measures approximately 4.5 feet long, 2.5 feet wide and 2 feet tall.” Visually not at all what one would expect.

Plymouth Rock tells his story in easy rhymes that roll along from one event to the next with such titles as Rock and Roll, Rock Bottom and Rock Star. The illustrations, said to be doodled on paper and digitally colored, are friendly, and full of smiles for young readers.

PLYMOUTH ROCKS! The Stone-Cold Truth written by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Sam Streed is a gentle introduction to fact-based history for readers 5-8 years of age (Charlesbridge, 2020).

The Children’s Bookshelf is a production of WCMU. Links to the podcast and the activity questions, ideal for home use, can be found at Children’s Bookshelf dot org.

Activity Questions for PLYMOUTH ROCKS

Older readers: Plymouth Rock has many stories about himself that were not totally true. That can happen when stories are handed down from one person to another. Have you ever had something happen to you that when you told a friend or a sibling it actually got somewhat changed? Think about it. What event or experience became bigger, funnier or scarier with each telling? Record your experience with such slightly changed facts in a notebook where you can keep track of them over time.

The author says the Plymouth Rock had five spills since 1620. Go back through the story and make a time sheet of Rock’s spills and falls. Include when it happened, where it took place and why it was being moved. Then check your facts by going to online sites that speak to the Rock’s travels and spills. The author also includes some online sites at the back of this book where you can GET THE FACTS.

Young readers: Re-read Rock’s poems aloud. (parents can help) Which is your favorite? Why? Draw your own picture/ illustration for the poem you like best of all.