Room of Wonders    by Sergio Ruzzier Order:  USA  Can Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2006 (2006) Hardcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Hilary Daninhirsch Pius Pelosi is a pack rat who has an amazing collection of treasures that he displays in his room of wonders. Visitors come from all over to view this room. In his collection, which he obtained from gathering objects thrown out by other people, or things he finds on the street or in the forest, Pius boasts everything from a leaf in the shape of a dog to a glass eye and a baby shoe. But his prized possession is a pebble, which he keeps in a glass container in the middle of the room. Many visitors can't understand why this pebble means so much to Pius, and advise him repeatedly to get rid of this eyesore. In fact, the pebble was the first item in his collection. Sadly, Pius yields to the will of others, and ends up getting rid of not only the pebble but everything he has ever collected. He falls into a deep funk and when he emerges several days later, he sees a pebble on the street, and so begins his collection anew. Perhaps a child who is attached to a special blanket or other cherished object can relate to this story about following your heart, no matter what others' opinions may be. I also thought it was sweet that Pius can see beauty in the mundane. Children will enjoy finding fun items in the room of wonders, many of which seem to have faces. The sparse illustrations and soft shading are a perfect match to this nicely done picture book. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Kids books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews