A Feather, a Pebble, a Shell

by Miri Leshem-Pelly

Whenever the author-illustrator runs in a field, climbs a hill, or swims in the sea in Israel, she looks for something small to hold in her hand. She finds a basalt pebble from the ice-cold Dan River, formed from lava over 100,000 years ago. Israel's national bird, the hoopoe, leaves a feather in the grass at HaYarkon Park. Dead hood coral grows in the Red Sea, where fish play hide-and-seek. She holds small things in her hand and then leaves them in their habitats . . . for the reader to find.

Genres: Picture Books, Israel

Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My copy is an UNcorrected proof with many words Siamese twinned to each other, but no problem for me to read because of MANY years of reading doctor's handwriting. But the illustrations are WONDERFUL! Traveling and enjoying nature from the Dan River in the North, all the way to beach on the Red Sea in the South, there is much to see but leave alone for good conservation.
The illustrations by the author are fun, intricate, brilliantly diverse, and delightful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone of any age (6-106) including ESL, and great for gifting to anyone, but especially to a school, church or synagogue library, or your local public library! If getting as eBook, be sure to get Adobe Digital Editions on laptop for absolutely best effect.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book on Adobe Digital Editions from Lerner Publishing Group/Kar-Ben Publishing ® via NetGalley. Thank you!

[Judy Katzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading A Feather, A Pebble, a Shell, by Miri Leshem-Pelly. Having never been to Israel, but always wanting to go, it was fun to learn through the eyes of a child about the diverse natural landscape and the treasures each area offers. The illustrations were absolutely beautiful. I loved looking for the small creatures in the pictures that seemed to be watching the child make her discoveries. I thought the information in the boxes added to the book and I especially appreciated the author's message: explore and enjoy nature, and then leave what you find for the next person to discover and enjoy. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy of this book.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Feather, a Pebble, a Shell
by Miri Leshem-Pelly

The story if Israel, it's nature beauty and history from a child's point of view.
She talks about the animals, and history. She finds treasures at each site she visited but leaves them for the next person. The paintings are beautiful, the history new and exciting.

[Kris Reguera · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful way to discover the landscape of Israel but also to promote being outdoors, discovering new rocks, shells, plants, animals, and including real facts that kids can understand. The illustrations are stunning.

[Kathy Temean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that Miri has written a story that introduces readers to so many interesting things you can find in the country of Israel, which is about the same size as New Jersey. Children and adults will love taking the outdoor journey around Israel. Miri takes the reader on a journey from the cold, snow-capped mountains in the North to the hot, arid deserts in the South and the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth. She does this without it feeling like a travel book, and she provides interesting facts along the way without feeling like you are reading a textbook. With every page, the reader gets to see the surprisingly diverse landscape of Israel.

Kids will love seeing the stalactites and the simple explanation of how they formed. I am sure the Dead Sea will hold kids' attention with how there are no fish in the water and no shells to find because the sun and heat cause the water to evaporate, leaving a heavy concentration of salt and minerals, making it unlivable for fish or sea creatures, thus no shells, but it's a great place to float. The salt density is around 32% more than you will find in the ocean, which makes people more bouncy, so they can just lay back and relax. That sounds like a lot of fun.

There are many things in this book that I never thought about and didn't know. For example, I didn't consider how long an olive tree can live. Some live to be a thousand years old. It was fun to learn that the olive tree is Israel's national tree.  Kids will laugh when they find out that the Nubian Ibex loves to eat the pod fruit off the Acacia tree, and the seeds passing through the Ibex's stomach gives the seeds a better chance of sprouting when they are expelled from the Ibex onto the ground.

Miri's gorgeous illustrations are perfect for the story. Everyone who picks up this book, young or old, will be in awe of the pictures she created to show off Israel. Teachers and parents will see the possibilities for talking about the environment, wildlife, and geography, and it is a great way to introduce children to Israel.

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you enjoy waking outdoors? Do you peek at flowers, bugs, or admire the patterns in rocks? As a person who enjoys these things like walking through nature, exploring nature parks, and enjoying the outdoors this book was a like a love letter to all nature enthusiasts. I have never been to Israel, but this book opened my eyes to another landscape and at the same time helped me to recall similar adventures I have had in nature. I loved the text boxes that shared additional science content about the items the narrator picked up on her way. The art in this book is amazing. The page turns are also nice. Just when you feel the arid heat of the desert you turn the page and are underwater at a colorful coral reef. Emphasizing the importance of leaving nature behind for others to enjoy was a worthwhile inclusion to this book. The author's family photos at the end of the book was a nice touch as well. Knowing that this book was inspired and formed by the author's own experiences makes the book have deeper appeal. It isn't just a book about nature, or a book about Israel and its landscapes, but it also is a book about family, adventure, and loving the outdoors. I think this book would make a good addition to any library to celebrate the act of nature appreciation and exploring outdoors in an environmentally responsible way. Bonus- you get to explore another country's natural diversity.

[Sidney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun read that helps kids explore the world from anywhere through the pages of a book. It's easy to digest and insightful to the beauty of Israel. It is easy to relate to from a child's perspective, as it's written through a child's eyes and gives the essence of a child's mind.

It feels adventurous and makes outdoors feel so interesting, even in a place you might call home. In a time where kids are given so much to digest digitally, I feel something that makes them excited to get outside and to explore and play amongst nature, plants, animals is much needed.

Education that inspires further education is a plus for any book geared towards children.

I can't say the illustrations were my particular taste, but they aren't done poorly.

Overall, a nice read to share with a class or to read with a child in your life!

Thank you NetGallery for the advance reader copy.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Net Galley in exchange for an impartial review.

A Feather, a Pebble, a Shell is a well-done children's book dealing with the wildlife and plant life of Israel. It traces the adventures of a young Israeli girl as she visits various nature sites in the country as well as the objects she finds, including the items described in the title. The book has pretty illustrations of the various landscapes and animals described. It also benefits from the inclusion of interesting factoids regarding the various animals encountered. My one suggestion for improvement is that the book zips from one place to another very quickly, with a change in location every page or two. It might have been better to go a bit more in-depth on some of the locations.

[Amalia Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming book, told in first person about a curious girl that finds surprises in nature, such as a pebble, a rock, feather and much more. Beautifully illustrated, this book encourages readers to look and discover the beauty of the small things we can find in nature. While the girl observes sites in Israel, this is a universal story about being curious and also about respecting nature. The girl picks up little treasures but always leaves them behind so someone else would enjoy them. I loved the inserted boxes with more information about each item that the girl finds. Also, this is a great STEM book with very valuable back matter
Highly recommend for schools, homes and nature lovers.

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nature can be astounding. The scenery around you can be awe inspiring. But so can the little things around you if you take the time to just look. In this picture book, a little girl enjoys outings in nature "I look for something small to hold in my hand." she says. In each location she finds something small to examine and carry around, but then she puts it back for the next curious person to find. Each spread has a stunning scenic illustration of a nature lover's tour outing. It also include an inset with a close up of the small item the girl discovers. The inset has a detailed illustration and description sure to please any science minded child. The book takes the reader on a tour of various Israeli locations, and there is a map in the afterward that show each of the locations. the afterward discusses all the different types of environments that can be found in such a small area. The book provides a lot of information about the country. But the theme of responsible enjoyment of nature can be appreciated by nature lovers who live anywhere.

[Tade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Feather, A Pebble, A Shell is a gentle, enchanting celebration of nature’s quiet treasures. Through the author-illustrator’s eyes, every walk, climb, and swim in Israel becomes a moment of wonder—where a basalt pebble whispers ancient stories, a hoopoe’s feather carries the spirit of the land, and coral fragments hint at hidden underwater worlds.

This book invites readers to slow down, look closer, and rediscover the magic in small things. Beautifully told and visually rich, it’s a tender reminder that the world is full of tiny miracles waiting to be found—if we only open our hands, and our hearts, to them.

[Adeleke Inioluwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an engaging and thought provoking read that captures attention from the very first page. The author does a wonderful job of weaving together interesting ideas, relatable characters, and a strong sense of purpose. The writing is clear, the pacing is smooth, and the themes are meaningful, leaving readers with plenty to reflect on.

Whether you’re reading for entertainment, inspiration, or knowledge, this book offers something valuable. It’s well crafted and enjoyable, making it a great addition to any reader’s collection.

[Casey Rislov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating. This book will hold young one's attention with the adventure found in this book. From finding volcanic rocks to shells to feathers to seeds on each page... this book is exactly what interests' children when they head outdoors. The extra information about each item found and the diverse landscapes will inspire children for their own adventures.

I received a copy through NetGalley.

[Vivian Kirkfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love picture book stories that take me on a journey. Child readers will be swept away to a calm and peaceful place in their hearts as the main character visits river, beach, and field. The writing is captivating - the language is lyrical and visual - and the illustrations are stunning. The additional STEM sidebars add value for teachers who can use this book in the classroom. Highly recommend!!

[Sally Wilsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really nice story with very calming illustrations. It tells the story of a young girl in Israel and here adventures to different parts of her country. As she goes she tells some information on the things she sees like the Hoopoe bird. I like to learn about other countries and this has a nice list of places for further research in the back of the book.

[Jess Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully gentle celebration of nature’s tiny treasures. Every page invites children to explore, wonder, and appreciate the world around them. Highly recommended by the Brisbane Geek Social Book Club.

[Author Lift · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book turns simple moments into pure magic. The author-illustrator’s journey through Israel’s landscapes is calming, curious, and perfect for young readers. A Brisbane Geek Social Book Club favorite.

[Olajumoke · Rating 5 out of 5]

QI'm so glad our book club featured with Nikolai, such an amazing book, the plot,the theme.. I'm so amazed that I couldn't stop reading, definitely rereading this book.
I'd love to read more of Nikolai's book

[Martha Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting way to explore various natural areas of Israel, while maintaining the environment.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks for featuring this book at our book club.
I highly recommend it

[Dollar · Rating 5 out of 5]

So interesting we would love to feature your book in our upcoming event

[Christiana Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stunning blend of art, nature, and storytelling. Kids will love discovering each object and imagining its story. Proudly recommended by the Brisbane Geek Social Book Club.

[Mike Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating, calming, and wonderfully educational. This book encourages young readers to explore their environment with curiosity and care. Recommended by the Brisbane Geek Social Book Club.