Rocks in My Pockets

by Marc Harshman, Bonnie Collins

The rocks around their mountain farm serve all of the Woods family in many ways, both utilitarian and recreational, until the day two ladies from the city come to visit

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 10, 1991

About the author

Marc Harshman is the poet laureate of West Virginia, appointed by Governor Earl Ray Tomblin in May 2012. His poems have appeared in such publications as Shenandoah, The Georgia Review, The Progressive, Appalachian Heritage, Bateau, and Fourteen Hills. Other poems have been anthologized by Kent State University, the University of Iowa, University of Georgia, and the University of Arizona.

His eleven children's books include ONLY ONE, a Reading Rainbow review title on PBS TV and THE STORM, a Junior Library Guild selection and Smithsonian Notable Book Parent's Choice Award recipient. Booklist has called this same title "a knowing book that will speak to all children about self-image and hard-won success."

Mr. Harshman was honored in 1994 by receiving the Ezra Jack Keats/ Kerlan Collection Fellowship from the University of Minnesota for research of Scandinavian myth and folklore. He was also named the West Virginia State English Teacher of the Year by the West Virginia English Language Arts Council in 1995. More recently, he was named the recipient of the WV Arts Commission Fellowship in Poetry for the year 2000 and the Fellowship in Children's Literature for 2008. His children's titles have been published in Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Danish, and Swedish.

Marc is fondly known by many as a storyteller who served for over twenty years as a judge for the WV Liar's Contest held at the Vandalia Gathering in Charleston, WV. He has also served as an instructor for the historic Appalachian Writer's Workshop at the Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, KY.

Marc holds degrees from Bethany College, Yale Divinity School, and the University of Pittsburgh. He recently received an honorary doctorate from Bethany College in recognition of his life's work.

In honor of West Virginia's Sesquicentennial, Marc was commissioned by the Wheeling National Heritage Area to write a poem celebrating this event. This poem, "A Song for West Virginia," was presented in both Charleston and Wheeling as part of the day-long festivities held that day.

Reviews

[Simon Jongekryg]

Rocks in my Pockets is a very interesting read about a family who lives on top of a hill where the wind always blows. There the family uses rocks to do a variety of things like hold themselves to the ground, or heat up their beds. One day wealthy people discovered their rocks and saw just how beautiful they could be. Suddenly these rocks were being sold to everyone far and wide. This story really shows the importance of making something out of nothing and never getting too down on yourself for the obstacles that are in front of you. Instead the family found a simple solution to their problem and made the best out of it. Overall, this was a very fun read for younger-middle age students and was a strange concept that took me by surprise when I first read the book.

[Johnny Childers]

The core of this tale comes from my co-author, a true Appalachian storyteller, Bonnie Collins. Having shared the storytelling stage at the Vandalia Gathering (West Virginia's premier folk life celebration), where we also judged the state liar's contest, Bonnie has been both friend and inspiration. Several years ago, my wife and I were asked to interview Bonnie for "Goldenseal" magazine.

[Mariah]

Soo cute! As a child I’ve always have rocks in my pocket- my treasures of the day. I do so less often now but this book brought back fond memories and wishes of making joy out of the rocks in my pockets.

[Amanda_DJ n' Zac]

This one we found on our book shelf... no idea where it came from. lol But it was cute to read and just knowing that DJs mind was trying to figure out why the rocks were in their pockets all the way through to the end made it even better. :)

[Gina]

Marc Harshman is a WV author, and I have read most of his books, but this one is my favorite, I think.

[April Evans]

This is a great book to read to students about the value of money. This family starts off poor. Then, they sell their rocks and begin to make money. However, they still stay true to who they are.