[ A Single Pearl ] By Napoli, Donna Jo ( Author ) [ 2013 ) [ Hardcover ]

by Donna Jo Napoli

In a vast ocean, a single grain of sand seems hopelessly small and unimportant.But over time, the sand begins to change. Layer by layer, it grows and transforms. Its beauty starts to shine.Exquisitely crafted by an award-winning author-illustrator team, this luminous, uplifting story reminds us of the amazing capacity for change within us all.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, 2nd Grade, Middle East

Hardcover

First published June 18, 2013

About the author

Donna Jo Napoli is both a linguist and a writer of children's and YA fiction. She loves to garden and bake bread, and even dreams of moving to the woods and becoming a naturalist.

At various times her house and yard have been filled with dogs, cats, birds, and rabbits. For thirteen years she had a cat named Taxi, and liked to go outside and call, "Taxi!" to make the neighbors wonder. But dear dear Taxi died in 2009.

She has five children, seven grandchildren, and currently lives outside Philadelphia. She received her BA in mathematics in 1970 and her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures in 1973, both from Harvard University, then did a postdoctoral year in Linguistics at MIT. She has since taught linguistics at Smith College, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and Swarthmore College. It was at UM that she earned tenure (in 1981) and became a full professor (in 1984). She has held visiting positions at the University of Queensland (Australia), the University of Geneva (Switzerland), Capital Normal University of Beijing (China), the University of Newcastle (UK), the University of Venice at Ca' Foscari (Italy), and the Siena School for the Liberal Arts (Italy) as well as lectured at the University of Sydney (Australia), Macquarie University (Australia), the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), and the University of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and held a fellowship at Trinity College Dublin. In the area of linguistics she has authored, coauthored, edited, or coedited 17 books, ranging from theoretical linguistics to practical matters in language structure and use, including matters of interest to d/Deaf people. She has held grants and fellowships from numerous sources, including the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Mellon Foundation, the Sloan Foundation.

Reviews

[Linda Lipko · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story of hope and the change that can occur from small things. One grain of sand falls to the ocean, deep, deep it travels. Landing inside the oyster, layer, upon layer covers the strand which then becomes a magnificent shining pearl worthy of great value.

This book reinforces the difference one item, or person can make, and one action can ripple throughout, gaining power and beauty.

The coupling of Napoli and LaMarche is excellent. Her writing and his illustrations together create a message well told and beautifully illustrated.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charming but a bit too heavy-handed.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of a sad sack grain of sand that turns into a beautiful and beloved pearl and eventually the national jewel of Persia. Lush and lovely illustrations, folktale feel, Spanish reads smoothly.

[Cecilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book about how you can't always measure your own worth accurately. Good for kids with depression, maybe, if they're not so far gone in the mental sickness that they can't receive hopeful messages. (For instance, from someone who is too far gone, my depression simply tells me, 'Yeah, but, you know, not you. This is for other people. Isn't that sweet?')

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations and informative story. I knew pearls start as sand and come from oysters, but we still learned from this story and the journey of a tiny grain of sand. Out of small things proceedeth that which is great.

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. Great story line, beautiful illustrations, and a beautiful message for children. My 4 year old loved it.

[Ellie Dynek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found this book on the shelves, and couldn't put it down until I got to the very last page. What a marvelous story about true worth and beauty :)

[sincerely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids enjoyed it.

[Nanny B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story and beautiful illustrations!

[Vijaya Bodach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely story about how a pearl comes to be. Loved the perspective of a single grain of sand, who feels small and unimportant at the beginning.

[Jennifer Heise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this a lot more than I did. I like the illustrations, I like the way the text is put together, I like the idea, but my 'eh' about it is much more than the fact that the pastel coloration didn't resonate much with my six-year-old son. I think it just pushes too many Disney buttons the way it's put together, and I don't mean Miyasaki-Disney. The style just comes across too Finding Nemo/Little Mermaid for me-- if you have a child out there who loves either, this would be a great book for them, plus illustrating the allusion to the grain of sand turning into an oyster. (Nobody, as the proverb goes, ever asked the grain of sand if it wanted to turn into a pearl: so sometimes that transition, as illustrated here, may not be quite as peaceful as one might expect.)

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A single grain of sand feels insignificant and unimportant when he compares himself to the vastness of the ocean. He feels hopeless when he gets stuck in an oyster. What's a grain of sand to do?

A powerful story that reminds us of our own worth. I felt the sand's hopelessness and despair. Knowing what happens to sand in an oyster did nothing to dampen the wonder of that event and I love what happens to him as a pearl.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice picture book for explaining how pearls are made and it conveys the magical nature of the jewel with beautiful illustrations. The Persian setting makes it that much more exotic and magical.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of the journey of a single grain of sand, into a pearl (through it's many stages and the people encountered) was captivating.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty pictures. simple story for kids. could teach how a pearl is formed scientifically.