The Rock And The Bird

There once was a rock which stood old and alone amidst a stretch of sand. For a long time it knew nothing except the lapping waves of the sea. Then one day a noisy bird came to rest on the rock—and began to annoy the rock with its endless chatter. Despite their hostile beginnings, the two began a friendship that evolved and changed over many years. Then one day when the bird did not return to the rock, the rock knew that his friend had died. And his world would return to what it once was, though now it was also filled with memories of his dearest friend.

‘[We were] looking for something high quality, a truly wonderful read that would touch the hearts and minds of the readers... You can read [The Rock and the Bird] at different points in time and it speaks to you in different ways. The book is simple, yet profound.’—Edmund Lim, one of the judges of the Hedwig Anuar Children's Book Award 2015

‘An astonishing and stunning story: a timeless fable which would appeal to readers of all ages. The deceptively simple use of language allows a profoundly affecting story about mortality and friendship to unfold with an effortless ease. The characterisations of the rock and the bird are skillfully drawn. This is an entry which is unexpected, original and enthralling from start to finish!’—Chief Examiner, Royal Commonwealth Society

Chew Chia Shao Wei, at fourteen, wrote this story for the Commonwealth Essay Writing Competition in 2009, winning First Prize, Class A. She studied at Raffles Girls’ School and Raffles Institution, earning the Rotary Club of Singapore’s Good Samaritan Award in 2012 for her volunteerism. She began her studies at Harvard University in 2013. Anngee Neo, a Singaporean illustrator, works mainly in digital mediums, creating quirky, surreal, and whimsical illustrations, and has contributed to several books, including this award-winning story.