The Story of The Wonder Rocks

On a springtime trip to Joshua Tree National Park,  I could not stop seeing the faces of characters in the rock formations. I kept saying to my wife Renée, "Look it's a big blob guy!"  "Look it's a shark!"  "Look it's Grumpy!" Safe to say I was a little more enthusiastic about the exercise than she was.

I took a lot of pictures. 

I hoped I would be able to recognize the faces when I returned home.

When I opened up the photos, there they were!

Just for fun I started digitally painting eyes on the pictures and the characters came to life. The more time I spent with them, the more it seemed that the rocks might have a story to tell, so I sat and stared and wondered and asked: Who are you? Why have you come to me? What are you trying to say? The Wonder Rocks is the result of this organic creative journey. 

Each page turn of this unique and enchanting book delivers new surprises: wonder-filled wisdom and insights about friendship, creativity, navigating life’s challenges, responsibility to the natural world and pure imaginative joy. Young listeners and readers will be delighted by the whimsical chaROCKters and rhythmic rhyme while older readers will be charmed by the depth of meaning from these voices of nature. Seeing the original photographs opposite the "augmented reality" characters elevates The Wonder Rocks into training wheels for the imagination. Once you learn to ride a bike, you can never forget. Once you see these faces in the rocks you'll never look at the world the same way again! The Wonder Rocks is for lovers of nature, rock climbers, mystics, people who see faces in things, and kids of all ages who love rocks, the Earth and the idea that there's more to the world than meets the eye. 

Click to step through the sample below…