Rice & Rocks

Tradition takes flight in Rice & Rocks, a picture book celebrating culture and diversity.

Giovanni’s friends are coming over for Sunday dinner, and his grandmother is serving rice and beans. Giovanni is embarrassed—he does not like “rice and rocks” and worries his friends will think the traditional Jamaican dish is weird. But his favorite Auntie comes to the rescue. She and Giovanni’s pet parrot, Jasper, take him on a magical journey across the globe, visiting places where people eat rice and rocks. This exciting story celebrates the varied traditions of every culture while also highlighting the delicious similarities that bring us all together.

Gold and Silver Medal Winner in the 2018 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards

First Place Winner in the 2017 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards

Winner and Finalist in the 2017 National Indie Excellence Awards

Winner in the 2017 Indie Reader Discovery Awards

Finalist in the 2016 USA Best Book Awards

Praise for Rice & Rocks

"A beautiful, amusing tribute to family traditions." - Kirkus Reviews

"Rice and Rocks by Sandra L. Richards is a stunning, heartwarming children's book...Children will enjoy reading this book again and again." - Readers' Favorite

"Rice & Rocks is a loving tribute to tradition, family, and cross-cultural connections, which will add warmth, color, and beauty to any young child's bookshelf." - IndieReader

"Rice & Rocks is a must read for youngsters developing their convictions sense of self and the importance of varying cultures in our society its empowerment to the max." - Daniel Quintero, Executive Director Kips Bay Boys and Girls Club

"Sandra Richards weaves her genius through this book that is appropriate for all ages." - Latham Thomas, maternity lifestyle expert, bestselling author, & Founder of Mama Glow

"Rice & Rocks has something, literally, for every child. It teaches the joy of sharing and bonding over mealtime, and the universality of celebrating holidays with traditional food (in this case, the same dish)." - Donna Brazile, Author of Cooking with Grease and Syndicated Columnist