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Тайната на Черната скала

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Малката Ерин е чувала какви ли не истории за страховитата черна скала, която дебне рибарите и техните лодки в морските дълбини! Но любопитството й да разбере каква е тайната на тази чудовищна канара е голямо и Ерин предприема смело приключение, което ще й покаже, че не винаги нещата са такива каквито изглеждат!

Прекрасната и топла история на Джо Тод-Стантън, в комбинация с разкошните илюстрации на автора, учи децата на разбиране, търпение и в крайна сметка – обич и грижа.

40 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

8 people are currently reading
534 people want to read

About the author

Joe Todd-Stanton

39 books185 followers

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5 stars
532 (44%)
4 stars
456 (37%)
3 stars
187 (15%)
2 stars
24 (1%)
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2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
Profile Image for Jasmine from How Useful It Is.
1,674 reviews383 followers
December 9, 2019
Reread for my 4 months old daughter. I love this story though she may be too young to understand. I just continue to read to her to introduce her stories and books.

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My Experience: I started reading The Secret of Black Rock on 5/25/17 as a story time for my 5 year-old son and we finished it on the same day. We read it again on 5/27/17 and 6/1/17 per my son’s request. This book is truly an amazing read! The story grabbed both of our attention from beginning to end. The illustration is magnificent! Both my son and I loved it. My son refused me to read for him if he can’t look at the illustrations. It’s so beautiful and the pictures I took doesn’t do its justice so I decided to use the images provided by the publisher via Edelweiss.

In this book, readers will follow Erin Pike and her dog Archie as they stare longingly to sea. She had heard of the legend of Black Rock, how it doesn’t stay in one place, caused many wrecks, and it’s as big as a mountain. She tried many times to sneak into her mom’s fishing boat so that she can go out to sea to look for Black Rock but Archie always sniffed her out. One day, she thought of a clever idea and got passed Archie’s nose. When her mom’s boat were far out to sea and fog came down thick, the top of Black Rock appeared and Erin’s mom turned the boat around quickly to avoid the crash, Erin went tumbling down into the deep sea. I love the suspense in this story, describing how Erin falls into the sea deeper and deeper.

I never knew children’s picture books can be such fantastic read until I read this book! I love it when the main character is brave, curious, and can think up clever ideas. I like that Erin takes action to doing what she believes is right when others believe in the worst. My son loves this story because Erin choose to save rather than destroy. Another reason this book is great for kids is because it has a “subtle message about environmentally-friendly practices and the importance of protecting coral reefs.” I highly recommend everyone to read this book, either for yourself, for your kids, or have your kids read it. It’s definitely a re-read for my son and I and we have already read it 3 times!

Pro: illustration, brave, curiosity, nature, sea animals, actions & adventures, legend, mystery, suspense, fishing town

Con: none

I rate it 5 stars!

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to NoBrow for the opportunity to read and review. Please assure that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for a detailed review
Profile Image for Hilary .
2,294 reviews491 followers
August 15, 2020
I bought this book for my daughter for Christmas without seeing it first. Initially I was dissapointed, from reviews I thought this was a graphic novel and from the cover and title I thought of it as a modern version of Tintin with a female lead role, so when I received it I was dissapointed because it looks like a picture book for a very young child and although I agree with the sentiment, it looked like a 'save-the-ocean-stupid-adults' book, although doesn't give any practical advice on what we can do to stop destroying it.

The illustrations are beautiful and the sea life is carefully observed, I wish there could have been more text and the ocean life and black rock could have been given voices so the message could have been given in a more subtle way. My daughter really liked it and said she was so glad I bought it anyway because she loved the story, illustrations and sea creatures.

Although the story is based around a fishing village, nothing is caught or killed and the book carries the message of preserving ocean life.
Profile Image for Dream.M.
1,037 reviews648 followers
December 3, 2024
خببب بازم یه بچه مهربون و باهوش جهان رو نجات داد :)
از دیدن قهرمان دختر داستان و یه مامان که شغلش ماهیگیری عه خیلی کیف کردم.
پیام داستان: مراقب همدیگه باشیم
Profile Image for Spencer Orey.
600 reviews208 followers
August 25, 2019
The art in this book is beautiful, and it starts really strong.

For me, the pace was off. The story takes an interesting swerve but instead of taking the time to really think about that, it speeds up again and gets weirder really fast. Then it ends. A few more pages in the middle would have helped, especially since the illustrations are so nice to look at.

But it's a lovely book! It feels like a kid primer for reading graphic novels, which is rad. And my kid likes the story, even where I get a little confused.
Profile Image for Parastoo Khalili.
203 reviews455 followers
December 26, 2020
صددرصد مهربانی رو باید از کودکان یاد گرفت.
کودک مهربان به دنیا میاد ولی از دنیا ضربه می‌بینه و مهربانی‌ش ازبین میره.
Profile Image for Mathew.
1,560 reviews219 followers
July 4, 2018
It was with some trepidation that I picked up Todd-Stanton's next book since I had enjoyed Arthur and the Golden Rope so much but I have not been disappointed.
Sticking to the winning formula of an adventurous child living in a world fringed with fantasy (much like Pearson's Hilda series), Erin Pike is a young girl fascinated with the local legend around Black Rock. Although she often tries to seek it out by boarding her mother's fishing boat (yes, good to see a female fisherman!) she always found until one time her guile serves her well and she manages to stay on board. When she finally encounters Black Rock, she is surprised (I loved how Todd-Stanton forces the reader to shift perspective both by changing the way we read the book and challenging our view of Black Rock too).
The rest of the story leaves us with a strong message about how we judge outsiders and a nice ecocritical commentary too. Plenty of potential in the classroom.
Profile Image for HP Saucerer.
90 reviews32 followers
April 24, 2019
Every time I spot a book published by Flying Eye at my local library I get giddy with excitement as invariably they’re a visual treat and rarely do they disappoint. And The Secret of Black Rock is no exception.

Stylistically, the illustrations have a vintage nostalgic, almost Famous Five feel and it was this that I found most appealing about the book. Although there's a powerful sense of drama in much of the artwork, there's also a friendliness too, tempering the story's more scarier moments.

There is much to like about Erin Pike (the story's protagonist); she's a gutsy young seafarer with a huge heart and she resolutely stands up for what she believes in. I also liked the fact that instead of a fisherman father, it is her seafaring mother who she takes to the sea with, so kudos to Joe Todd-Stanton for challenging the gender stereotype.

The Secret of Black Rock is a daring adventure story with a hint of mystical charm that carries a gentle environmental message reminding us of the need to take greater care of the precious habitat in which we live. I really enjoyed this one and I’ll definitely be looking out for more books by this author.
Profile Image for Dave Schaafsma.
Author 6 books32.1k followers
June 21, 2018
Well, don't think you are going to hear the secret from me!

Cute textured production with lovely illustrations by Flying Eye Books and Joe Todd-Stanton.
Profile Image for Roya.
755 reviews146 followers
July 5, 2024
ایده‌ی خوبی داشت برای انیمیشن شدن‌.
یعنی تا حدودی ایده‌ی تکراری‌ایه ولی محبوبه.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
4,784 reviews
September 20, 2021
The illustrations are stunning! The experience of reading this book was so immersive, and I find myself thinking about it days later, which surprised me. On the surface, it's rather simplistic, but something about it just connected with me. It's called "a modern folk-tale" and it does have that element of the child (who hasn't listened to the advice meant to keep her safe!) going off on an adventure, facing danger, and learning something. In this case, her bravery (stupidity?) actually leads to a discovery that helps save another creature's life, and helps the adults in her community break free of old, damaging mindsets. It has a save-the-ocean message, though there are, unfortunately, no concrete suggestions given for ways children can help in the real world. Still, taken as "a modern folk-tale" I think it succeeds in providing a good story as well as food for thought. My children were captivated by the illustrations, too. This is the second book by Joe Todd-Stanton I've read recently and I look forward to more!
Profile Image for Del.
370 reviews16 followers
January 6, 2020
It's been a couple of years since I set myself a reading challenge/target/thingy, but I got into a bit of a reading slump late last year, and I decided I needed to shake things up a bit. My kid is getting to an age now where the stories we're reading together are becoming interesting to me as well as him (no offence to things like Bigger Digger, but I'm glad those days are in the past!), so I thought I'd include some of these too (and I've set the target to a much higher number than normal, so I'm not cheating myself!). I'm going to start getting into a bit of Roald Dahl, things like that. If anyone has any recommendations, I'd love to hear them.
This was a neat little story, with a really positive message about how we should treat the sea with a great deal of respect. The illustrations are gorgeous too.
Profile Image for Skip.
3,845 reviews582 followers
October 7, 2019
Erin and her mother (who fishes for a living) live in a small village haunted by the legend of Black Rock, a shipkiller, that is never seen ahead of time. Why? Read and find out. Beautiful oceanographic illustrations triumphs over a weak, wandering plot.
Profile Image for Karine Mon coin lecture.
1,719 reviews293 followers
September 1, 2018
Quel bel album! Une très belle façon de parler de l'environnement et de l'importance de le protéger. Le tout avec des personnages attachants et sans ton trop moralisateur pour les petits.
Profile Image for Aida.
388 reviews19 followers
December 3, 2024
پایان: ۱۴۰۳/۹/۱۱
خیلی گوگولی و کیوت بود🥺🤍
Profile Image for Stephanie.
921 reviews
October 10, 2017
Loved the illustrations, but the message that kids need to be change agents to save the world because adults are dumb is tiresome.
Profile Image for Anna Crowley Redding.
Author 12 books49 followers
August 13, 2018
Just a beautiful book, magical, whimsical. Perfect for curling up with next to a fire and talking about assumptions in our own lives. The illustrations and text will transport you to a far away place to be savored.
Profile Image for Drew Canole.
3,168 reviews43 followers
May 8, 2018
I love short adventure books like this. It reminds me a bit of the Hilda books by Luke Pearson. Very bold, beautiful artwork with a fun adventure. I felt like the prose was aimed for a little too young of an audience. I think the author could write for an older audience and still be readable by youngsters.

Profile Image for BrookesEducationLibrarian.
457 reviews50 followers
March 27, 2019
This is a charming picture book that follows the story of Erin Pike, a girl that longs to explore the sea but kept away from the dangerous 'black rock' that endangers local fishermen and women. One day she manages to sneak her way onto her mother's fishing boat and accidentally falls into the sea and...
don't want to spoil it!

The illustrations are lovely, the book has an almost graphic novel-esque feel to it - I've always enjoyed picture books that feature the sea and stunning underwater scenes. It's definitely a good advocate for protecting the sea and all that lives there, even if it is only a rock!
Profile Image for Donovan.
442 reviews30 followers
October 9, 2021
I hesitate to say anything negative about this book, because it's one of the more beautiful picture books I've seen in a while. The story.....has some holes. BUT! I love the setting and the context AND the sentiment. I freaking ADORE the artwork. It's as pleasing as a good swim in the ocean. Much praise for JTS's talents.
Profile Image for Chance Lee.
1,399 reviews158 followers
July 12, 2017
Beautiful illustrations complement a somewhat basic fable about a girl who sees what adults cannot. The magical world drawn by Todd-Stanton deserves a more creative story to accompany it. The artwork is absolutely stunning, saving an otherwise trite tale.
Profile Image for Gita.
358 reviews79 followers
July 4, 2023
عنوان فارسی: راز صخره‌ی سیاه
مترجم: آزاده کامیار
انتشارات پرتقال

داستان دختربچه‌ای است به نام «ارین» که عاشق رفتن به دریاست اما در شهر داستان هایی وجود دارد از صخره‌ای بزرگ و مرگ‌بار، که او را از رفتن به دریا منع می‌کند؛ تا اینکه اتفاقی می‌افتد و ارین با صخره مواجه می‌شود اما نتیجه آن چیزی نیست که انتظارش را می‌کشید.

تصاویر نفس‌گیر و واقعا زیبا هستند. در مورد داستان، برایم کمی غیرمنطقی بود که ماهیگیران با شنیدن داستان ارین تصمیم به نابودی صخره گرفتند.

۱۴۰۲/۴/۱۴
Profile Image for Lea_ecrit.
186 reviews2 followers
April 19, 2025
Un adorable album qui peut sensibiliser à l'écologie !
Lisez les album de Joe Todd-Stanton !
Profile Image for Dactylaura.
688 reviews
April 8, 2022
4,25 🌟 trop!!! beau!!! j’ai grave aimé 🤩 pas trop étonnée puisque la couv m’avait tapée dans l’œil et que j’adore le trait de l’illustrateur (ours >>> ❤️)
Profile Image for Jennifer B..
1,278 reviews30 followers
April 17, 2018
I really enjoyed this, the story and the illustrations. It's also interesting to note that the main character is a girl and her fisherwoman mother!
Profile Image for Tasha.
4,165 reviews137 followers
June 7, 2017
Erin grew up near a large fishing town but she wasn’t allowed to head out into the sea herself, because of the danger. The huge rock outside of the town was the subject of many frightening stories that spoke about how it moved from place to place and was huge and sharp. Erin tried to hide on her mother’s fishing boat, but Archie, her dog, always found her. When Erin finally managed to sneak aboard, thick fog settled in and the boat almost ran into the black rock! As the boat veered away, Erin fell into the sea. As Erin sank farther and farther, she discovered the secret of Black Rock and realized that it was up to her to protect the rock.

This picture book celebrates the wildness of the sea and its incredible lifeforms. The secret of Black Rock takes this book from one of reality to fantasy in one revelation. The reveal is done beautifully, the page dark except for Erin and the fish. The writing is simple and allows the story to play out swiftly on the page.

The illustrations are exceptional. Black Rock’s emergence as a full character in the book is done particularly well as are the bright and varied fish that live around it. The pages with half of the scene underwater are particularly effective and truly show the magic of the story. The color palette between the sea and the rock and then the harbor and the humans are strikingly different and used very effectively during the stand off as well.

A lush and lovely picture book that invites children to find their own magic in the world. Appropriate for ages 4-7.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews

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