Picture book about a father and son learning to express difficult emotions

Dad mows the lawn in front of a huge rock. His son Charlie is on top of the rock and barely holding on. Dad is oblivious. The background is bright yellow. The Title says: A Guide to Rocks. By Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan

A Guide to Rocks | He Taonga te Toka

Come on a journey with Dad and Charlie as they navigate the tricky terrain of expressing their difficult emotions (or ‘rocks’). Dad earnestly tries to help Charlie with a dusty, old book full of rules for hiding bothersome feelings. But when the rocks begin to pile up, Dad and Charlie must rewrite the rules together.

Awards & Recognition

New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2026: Winner - Margaret Mahy Book of the Year
New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2026: Winner - BookHub Picture Book Award
New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults 2026: Winner - Wright Family Foundation Te Kura Pounamu Award for a book translated into Te Reo Māori - He Taonga te Toka - translated by Kawata Teepa
PANZ Book Design Awards 2026: Finalist: Scholastic New Zealand Award for Best Children’s Book
Storylines Notable Book Award 2025: Picture Book

A Guide to Rocks & He Taonga te Toka on What Now!!

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Order your copy from HUIA today

“This is the best picture book I’ve come across about feelings and how to unpack them….. This is a stand-out picture book.”

Review, Volume Books
"This book is a gift. Please share it with someone you love.”

Paula Green, Poetry Box
"It is another shining star from the talented duo and a book that should be on every bookshelf and in every educational setting.”

Review - Rebekah Lyell, NZ Booklovers
“Their unique blend of humour, heart, and artistry shines again in A Guide to Rocks. It’s a thoughtful, timely book for children and adults alike.”

Review - Maria Gill, Kids Books NZ
"Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan have once again “dazzle”d and “bomb”arded us with their brilliance.”

Review - Roger, Little Unity, Book Hub
“As a man who’s had difficulty sharing my feelings and emotions, this book felt close to home … It’s warm, gently humorous, and deeply relatable. A book I’m glad to keep on our shelf, not just for my daughter, but for myself as well. “

Review, Astley Nathan - Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand
“A Guide to Rocks' is not really about rocks. This is a touching and at times confronting look at masculinity in Aotearoa… This is an original and deeply poignant story told really well.”

Review, Lucy Black - Read NZ Te Pou Muramura
“This book rocks! … Recognizably from Aotearoa, it is deftly pitched to prompt helpful conversations between children, parents and educators.”

Renata’s Reviews, Scorpio Books

A Guide to Rocks | He Taonga te Toka

Awards & Recognition

“This is the best picture book I’ve come across about feelings and how to unpack them….. This is a stand-out picture book.”

"This book is a gift. Please share it with someone you love.”

"It is another shining star from the talented duo and a book that should be on every bookshelf and in every educational setting.”

“Their unique blend of humour, heart, and artistry shines again in A Guide to Rocks. It’s a thoughtful, timely book for children and adults alike.”

"Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan have once again “dazzle”d and “bomb”arded us with their brilliance.”

“As a man who’s had difficulty sharing my feelings and emotions, this book felt close to home … It’s warm, gently humorous, and deeply relatable. A book I’m glad to keep on our shelf, not just for my daughter, but for myself as well. “

“A Guide to Rocks' is not really about rocks. This is a touching and at times confronting look at masculinity in Aotearoa… This is an original and deeply poignant story told really well.”

“This book rocks! … Recognizably from Aotearoa, it is deftly pitched to prompt helpful conversations between children, parents and educators.”

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A Guide to Rocks | He Taonga te Toka

Awards & Recognition

“This is the best picture book I’ve come across about feelings and how to unpack them….. This is a stand-out picture book.”

"This book is a gift. Please share it with someone you love.”

"It is another shining star from the talented duo and a book that should be on every bookshelf and in every educational setting.”

“Their unique blend of humour, heart, and artistry shines again in A Guide to Rocks. It’s a thoughtful, timely book for children and adults alike.”

"Sacha Cotter and Josh Morgan have once again “dazzle”d and “bomb”arded us with their brilliance.”

“As a man who’s had difficulty sharing my feelings and emotions, this book felt close to home … It’s warm, gently humorous, and deeply relatable. A book I’m glad to keep on our shelf, not just for my daughter, but for myself as well. “

“A Guide to Rocks' is not really about rocks. This is a touching and at times confronting look at masculinity in Aotearoa… This is an original and deeply poignant story told really well.”

“This book rocks! … Recognizably from Aotearoa, it is deftly pitched to prompt helpful conversations between children, parents and educators.”

Dazzlehands | Ringakōreko

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