‘Our Pebbles’: Finding Magic in Life's Simple Moments

Our Pebbles by Jarvis(Walker Books, 2025)Good to Read for:Celebrating intergenerational relationshipsEncouraging connection with natureGentle introduction to loss There is something childlike and charming about Jarvis's work that makes me feel comforted, something akin to receiving a warm hug. His latest picture book, Our Pebbles – a heartfelt portrayal of the relationship between a grandfather and his grandchild – builds on that sense of togetherness.

Told from a child’s perspective (with suitably informal and chatty language, yet beautiful prose), Jarvis homes in on those simple things that children love best. 

A handful of sweets.

Trains whooshing past; climbing over stiles. 

A day at the seaside. 

It left me feeling quietly nostalgic for my childhood and the time spent with my own kids.

Jarvis’s own childhood inspired Our Pebbles. He writes:

 

‘Our Pebbles’ is quite a gentle story, and that’s how I began, very softly, but then I decided that it shouldn’t feel wistful and sombre - it should feel joyful and exciting - so my grandad character reflected that too.

– Jarvis on Instagram @jarvispicturebooks  

Grandad’s joie de vivre, and his tender care towards his grandson, is inspiring. Our Pebbles is an unapologetic celebration of life’s simple pleasures; of enjoying someone else’s company while doing nothing. Days like this are easily overlooked, and this story is a sweet and joyful reminder that they are limited.

There's so much to spot in the illustrations, from butterflies and birds to squirrels and centipedes – and that's just along the path through Wonky Woods, where the boy ‘look[s] out for monsters and things like that.’

   

Grandad is ever present, holding his grandson’s hand and joining in with the fun, from waving at the trains to ‘chatting with the spotty dogs.’

 

And up and over the stile. Where Grandad always said,

“Careful you don’t hit your head on the sky.”

Silly old Grandad.

 

With his arm around the boy’s shoulders, Grandad shepherds the boy over the sand dunes that hide the sea.

“Will it be in? Will it be out?” – the sense of anticipation is great!

Finally, the two friends arrive at their favourite destination: Pebble Beach.

There’s plenty for kids to spot, starting with the train. And a lifebelt. 

A lighthouse and sea groynes; 

seagulls, and a jetty.

Grandad and the boy have a sword fight with ‘old pirate wood’ left behind by the sea. 

They guess the name of a seal and eat ice cream. 

   

(This moment reminded me of eating chips with my parents and kids on the beach at Lyme Regis. Grandad became increasingly irate with the clamouring squabble of gulls overhead. Eventually,  he could bear it no longer. He dramatically shooed the birds away with a wild waving of his arms – and promptly threw his chips everywhere! We all laughed, and the seagulls had their fill. Silly old grandad.)

 

We went where footsteps didn't go. 

Where crabs hide out. 

Nobody knew the beach like us. 

 

Then they perform their own, private tradition. They pick a pebble each, wash them clean in the sea and then ‘hold them tight all the way to our favourite place… The Jolly Dancer’, an old fishing boat hauled up on the shingle, where Grandad does ‘his funny dance with the wiggly knees.’

Sitting in the boat , ‘perfectly smushed together,’ they paint their pebbles with a memory of the day.

   

Jarvis gives us a seagull's eye view of the boat and its collection of pebbles. Each one tells a story. This is a lovely moment for kids to share their ideas about the meaning of the pebbles. And there’s plenty to choose from! For example: A day at the circus; finding a tiny crab; sharing bubble gum and a thunderstorm. Interpreting these visual clues is a fun way of strengthening children's visual literacy and storytelling skills.

In some picture books (for example, Grandad’s Island by Benji Davies or Granpa by John Burningham), the featured grandparent dies. Although Our Pebbles touches on grief and loss, Jarvis addresses it in a different way: Grandad moves away.

 

And I missed looking out for monsters.

And I missed chatting with the spotty dogs.

And I missed The Jolly Dancer.

But most of all… I missed Grandad. 

 

Mam suggests a trip back to Pebble Beach. The child is empowered, leading the way with a smile up over the sand dunes and onto the shingle bank, where they pick out two stones. 

 

And I held them tightly all the way to Grandad's new home.

 

‘Grandad and child continue their tradition despite their new circumstances’ [Kirkus]. They paint the pebbles together just like before, and the boy promises Grandad that he'll take them back to the Jolly Dancer. As Kirkus notes, Jarvis doesn’t explain why Grandad moves, ‘though a propped-up cane by the sofa suggests that he’s slowed down a bit in his old age.’ And whilst picture books about death are important and useful, the bittersweet way in which Jarvis approaches the boy’s present sadness and inevitable loss is subtle and a welcome change.

The story ends on the narrator visiting the collection of painted pebbles that lie in The Jolly Dancer.

 

I look at each one and remember the days. 

Our days at Pebble Beach.

Just silly old Grandad and me.

 

As Jarvis said in a recent interview, “Finding the small moments that can signify something larger is what I often find interesting. Sometimes, a story about giving a pebble to somebody you love is still a big adventure.”

Watch Jarvis read "Our Pebbles" here 3 practical tips for sharing Picture Book with your child

Create your own memory pebbles

Take your children on a nature walk or beach visit to collect smooth stones. Back home, let them paint or decorate the pebbles to represent special memories you've shared together. Start a family collection in a special jar or box, adding a new pebble after each memorable outing. This creates a tangible way for children to understand how ordinary moments become treasured

Decode the pebble collection

Use the illustrations showing Grandad and the boy's painted pebbles as a storytelling prompt, asking your child to guess what memory it represents. Then encourage them to create their own stories: "What do you think happened on circus day? How did they find that tiny crab?" This builds visual literacy skills while sparking imagination.

Go on a treasure hunt!

Turn any walk into a treasure hunt by looking for the wildlife Jarvis includes throughout the journey - for example, butterflies, birds, squirrels, centipedes and spotty dogs! Create a visual checklist where children can draw or tick off what they spot.

Our Pebbles by Jarvis(Walker Books, 2025)Good to Read for:Celebrating intergenerational relationshipsEncouraging connection with natureGentle introduction to loss Copyright © 2025 Jarvis (Text & Illustrations)From OUR PEBBLES by JarvisReproduced by permission of Walker Books Ltd, London, SE11 5HJ Find more of my favourite seaside-themed picture books using the button below GET MORE SEASIDE STORY RECOMMENDATIONS BUY THE BOOKPowered by Bookshop.orgSupporting independent bookshops   “Family bonding at its sweetest.”

– Kirkus

“as comforting as holding a warm, smooth pebble in your hand.”

– LoveReading4Kids

BUY U.K. BUY U.S.A. * I EARN COMMISSION FROM THESE LINKS #AD/AFF RELATED ARTICLES SOURCESOur Pebbles by Jarvis (Walker Books 2025)Jarvis on Instagram: @jarvispicturebooks, June 17th 2025Our Pebbles review, Kirkus Reviews, June 10th 2025 Author-Illustrator Jarvis on Finding Colorful Memories in the Everyday by Cara Broel. Bookstr, June 5th, 2025 Are you stuck for quality stories that you and your kids will enjoy? Sign up for recommendations and tips. SIGN UP HERE © 2025 BY TIM WARNES(UNLESS OTHERWISE ATTRIBUTED)****USE OF THIRD-PARTY COPYRIGHTED MATERIAL FALLS UNDER FAIR USE/FAIR DEALING PRACTICE