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The Room of Wonders
Pius Pelosi, a young pack rat, is a born collector who fills a
room with his marvelous findings, attracting curious visitors.
His very favorite item, a plain gray pebble, is given a place of
honor, which baffles everyone. They all ask why he would keep
such an ordinary stone. Bowing to public opinion, Pius gets rid
of it, but in doing so, he discovers he’s lost much more than just
the pebble.
This philosophical tale about a small creature who has the eye
and soul of an artist is brought to life in distinctly droll
watercolor illustrations.
room with his marvelous findings, attracting curious visitors.
His very favorite item, a plain gray pebble, is given a place of
honor, which baffles everyone. They all ask why he would keep
such an ordinary stone. Bowing to public opinion, Pius gets rid
of it, but in doing so, he discovers he’s lost much more than just
the pebble.
This philosophical tale about a small creature who has the eye
and soul of an artist is brought to life in distinctly droll
watercolor illustrations.
40 pages, Hardcover
First published April 18, 2006
About the author
Sergio Ruzzier
81 books106 followersWebsite and blog: http://www.ruzzier.com
Sergio Ruzzier was born in Milan, Italy, in 1966.
He began his career as an illustrator in 1986.
In 1995 he moved to New York City, where he’s been creating pictures and stories for national and international magazines and book publishers.
His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, and The Society of Publication Designers.
He won the Parents' Choice Gold Medal for “The Room of Wonders” and for his illustrations for “Why Mole Shouted."
He was a recipient of the 2011 Sendak Fellowship.
Sergio Ruzzier was born in Milan, Italy, in 1966.
He began his career as an illustrator in 1986.
In 1995 he moved to New York City, where he’s been creating pictures and stories for national and international magazines and book publishers.
His work has been awarded by American Illustration, The Society of Illustrators, Communication Arts, and The Society of Publication Designers.
He won the Parents' Choice Gold Medal for “The Room of Wonders” and for his illustrations for “Why Mole Shouted."
He was a recipient of the 2011 Sendak Fellowship.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
February 8, 2008
I love this book. We've checked it out of the library at least 5 times. The drawings of all of the items in the room of wonders are wonderfully surreal. The story is nice without being too sweet as well. My four year old likes the idea of finding all that treasure, and it's a nice idea that treasure is treasure b/c you take pleasure in it, no matter what it is.
March 9, 2013
A curious book for the curious, full of curiosities. :)
For me, it's really about an artist's journey. The pebble is the spark of what inspires you, your core, and it leads to more and more elaborate objects/projects. Every once in a while, we throw out our pebble only to remember it's the most important thing. And it must be found again in order to be inspired, to go on creating.
I'm becoming a big fan of Sergio Ruzzier's work.
For me, it's really about an artist's journey. The pebble is the spark of what inspires you, your core, and it leads to more and more elaborate objects/projects. Every once in a while, we throw out our pebble only to remember it's the most important thing. And it must be found again in order to be inspired, to go on creating.
I'm becoming a big fan of Sergio Ruzzier's work.
November 29, 2007
I'm in love with this story and the sparse, lovely, weird illustrations. Great for anyone who tends to pick things up on walks and fill bowls and boxes and windowsills with 'em.
February 13, 2013
Here are treasures in the eyes of one beholder: keys, and bits of driftwood, and undelivered letters, and anything else he can manage to stash in a room full of cubbies, whose centerpiece remains an unassuming pebble of no apparent splendor. The tension here, and the surprises, arrive when visitors begin remarking on its relative plainness – “an eyesore,” says one - and this pack rat needs to decide why he's been collecting. The artwork here is exquisitely detailed and original, and it would be a pity if older readers were put off by talking animals. Because here is finally a story with a great deal to say about the wonders of original thinking, and sometimes also the regrets.
September 14, 2008
I should have just bought this one. My man didn't get it, thought it was pointless ("he should have thought before he threw his favorite rock away"), but I think what he's complaining about is the point of the story. Cool illustrations, cool story.
March 23, 2016
A very interesting book of a Renaissance Italy atmosphere rat which has its own chamber of curiosities. A lovely story and it might be inspiring for children to create their own collections. And the illustrations are quite nontraditional therefore the book has even a higher value.
June 25, 2008
this appeals to the packrat in me
February 21, 2025
The story could be called, "How to Train a Hoarder." Except that perhaps the intent is humor or satire.
Maybe it's even a cautionary tale?
Pius Pelosi is a young pack rat. He loves to fill a room with his special findings.
His very favorite item, a plain gray pebble, is given a place of honor, which baffles everyone. They all ask why he would keep such an ordinary stone.
Listening to that advice, Pius gets rid of this pebble, but later regrets his choice.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers. I assume they'll love this story, especially the kids who won't put away their toys. Or the human versions of young pack rats.
FIVE STARS then.
I do hope that caregivers and parents will springboard reading this book into having a meaningful conversation.
Hoarders and other people who create sprawling messes that others must live with . . .
They do NOT necessarily have the souls of artists.
Maybe it's even a cautionary tale?
Pius Pelosi is a young pack rat. He loves to fill a room with his special findings.
His very favorite item, a plain gray pebble, is given a place of honor, which baffles everyone. They all ask why he would keep such an ordinary stone.
Listening to that advice, Pius gets rid of this pebble, but later regrets his choice.
RATING THIS BOOK
Unless I absolutely love or loathe a book, my policy is to rate it in terms of my imagined response of the intended readers. I assume they'll love this story, especially the kids who won't put away their toys. Or the human versions of young pack rats.
FIVE STARS then.
I do hope that caregivers and parents will springboard reading this book into having a meaningful conversation.
Hoarders and other people who create sprawling messes that others must live with . . .
They do NOT necessarily have the souls of artists.
December 13, 2021
Pious Pelosi loves to collect things. One day he gets rid of a treasure that no one else understands and he gets depressed. Sergio Ruzzier’s illustrations are surrealistic and the setting in old world looking.
December 17, 2017
A wonderful story about a "pack" rat who finds beauty and wonder in ordinary items.
March 17, 2019
A story of a collection lovingly grown and dismantled only to be grown again.
Whatever sparks your love of collecting, don’t let others make you doubt what brings you joy and wonder.
Whatever sparks your love of collecting, don’t let others make you doubt what brings you joy and wonder.
July 7, 2022
A charming story of a pack rat who loses his inspiration due to listening to others' opinions. He soon finds it again.
December 4, 2023
Themes: stones, collections
Ages: 1-3rd grade
Pub year: 2006
Ages: 1-3rd grade
Pub year: 2006
November 6, 2016
This page, which provides the turning point of the book, doesn't seem to belong with the rest of the text:
His collection wasn't giving him pleasure any longer. It had become a burden.
But on the previous pages, Pius Pelosi (an odd name for a picture book character) cherishes his collection and enjoys sharing his treasures with visitors.
Visitors came from all over to see this wonderful collection. They asked questions, and Pius was glad to tell the story of how he made this or that discovery.
Pius doesn't get upset until after he bows to the pressure of others and parts with his prized pebble. To me, this picture book is about standing up for your beliefs/opinions, even when all others disagree with you. It is not about hoarding. After all, Pius is a pack rat and collecting things is his natural instinct.
Because of that confusion, I would give this book 3 stars; but I bumped it back up to 4 stars because kids will love the idea of treasure hunting and will be fascinated by Pius's vast collection.
His collection wasn't giving him pleasure any longer. It had become a burden.
But on the previous pages, Pius Pelosi (an odd name for a picture book character) cherishes his collection and enjoys sharing his treasures with visitors.
Visitors came from all over to see this wonderful collection. They asked questions, and Pius was glad to tell the story of how he made this or that discovery.
Pius doesn't get upset until after he bows to the pressure of others and parts with his prized pebble. To me, this picture book is about standing up for your beliefs/opinions, even when all others disagree with you. It is not about hoarding. After all, Pius is a pack rat and collecting things is his natural instinct.
Because of that confusion, I would give this book 3 stars; but I bumped it back up to 4 stars because kids will love the idea of treasure hunting and will be fascinated by Pius's vast collection.
September 15, 2012
I am supporting a colleague in a project she has begun where her young primary students are sharing their collections. They are learning about organization and displaying them, sharing them with the class, writing the basic information about them, then will write their stories that come from the collection. My colleague began with this book, a wonderful story of Pius Pelosi, a young pack rat, who has a room set aside to house his collection of miscellaneous items. He loves telling about his pieces, why he collected, where he found them, and so on. But many times the viewers question why he has a plain stone and Pius loses heart, eventually giving away his collection. How he finds new hope is the power of the story. This is a quiet book, with soft watercolor illustrations. It is perfect for discussing collections, of course, but also good for discussing being yourself, and sticking to one's beliefs, listening to your heart. It's a great discovery.
February 24, 2016
The story of a packrat (named, oddly enough, Pius Pelosi) who collects all sorts of fabulous things and puts them in a great big room. He has a little grey stone in a place of honor and all the visitors to his room of wonders criticize it as boring and uninteresting. But, it was the first thing Pius ever collected. Eventually all the criticism gets to him and he throws the stone away. After that, his collection looses its luster for him and he ends up giving it all away. After a few days of despair, Pius goes out for a walk and finds another grey stone he likes and renews his interesting collecting things.
Okay illustrations. Not that great.
Okay illustrations. Not that great.
April 22, 2009
This is an interesting story, a unique perspective on being a collector. It also demonstrates how every person has a different value system and even small, seemingly insignificant items can be priceless to someone.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews