When we come home to visit the grandparents every year, we read the well worn book. My daughter is 8 and loves to read the story now too. It was one of my childhhood favorites. It really is a wonderful book for some one who is moving away or their best friend is moving way. It is too bad it is out of print!

My mom got me this book when we moved out of state; I was 9 years old and terribly missing friends and the comfort of structure. I last read it 30 yrs ago but this book stands out in my mind more than any book I've ever read as a child. A little girl makes a friend by sharing a pretty stone with her. They become "best friends" but then one of them finds out she has to move away. It doesn't try to hide or sugar coat the pain of separation, but at the end another little girl moves in to her old friend's house, and the magic of the stone works again as they get to know one another. I remember their names even - Ann, Jean and Beth... and I can still see their pretty faces so beautifully sketched. Children are resilient when it comes to friends coming and going, but nevertheless it's very stressful to go through. This book should still be in print because families are more transient today than ever. It really helped me a great deal. (I'm looking to buy it now because we are moving in 2 weeks and wanted to read it to my sons!)