"And hurl they did. Every day,
after a lengthy warning bell rang
out, children of all ages fired
sandcastle-smashing stones into
the air. The children on the Island
of Sand, hearing the bell, scurried
off the beach to watch their castles
turn to ruins."
Two islands, two different groups of inhabitants, and two totally different environments make for a timely story of activism and courage. On the Isle of Sand, children spend their time creating remarkable sand castles. Across the water on the Isle of Stones, something totally different is happening. The people there spend their time creating stone launchers. The same thing happens every day; after a warning bell, stones are hurled at the sandcastles, smashing the castles to smithereens.
It is what is expected, and no one questions it. Nye is upset when she is two, and still bothered when she is four. At six, she is an expert builder, and still upset when her castle is the first one destroyed. Now, she is eight and helping her little sister learn how to build sand castles. When her castle is destroyed, Nye speaks up. As she returns the tugboat filled with stones, she offers those on the Isle of Stone an ultimatum:
"People of the Island of Stone," her voice
echoed over the water, "if you throw another
stone at the Island of Sand, we will keep your
stones, and we will become the Island of Sand
and Stones."
The poor 'hurlers' are upset that they will have nothing. Nye suggests there might be better things to do with their stones than what they are presently doing with them. The solution will thrill readers. The final illustration makes it all worth it! The idea that two very different types of people can operate in harmony is relevant and hopeful, in these times. Children need to hear stories like this one.
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