A Familiar Folktale Brings All Ages to the Table
New intergenerational adaptation of a classic story, Stone Soup, invites all ages to the table for valuable lessons.
Traverse City, Michigan—Throughout the years, the simple story of hungry travelers arriving in a village with nothing more than an empty pot and then coercing villagers to contribute ingredients to make a meal has been told in various ways. It’s been adapted in film, music, television, literature, and even as a military tactic when US Army General George Patton referred to the “rock soup method” of acquiring resources. Now, Christel Gollnick presents a fresh take on the classic tale in Stone Soup: A Familiar Folktale Brings All Ages to the Table, Mission Point Press (April 10, 2025).
Gollnick is founder and board secretary of Roots & Rounds[TM1] , an organization that addresses the problem of multi-age group conflict and ageism due to the lack of understanding and respect for each other’s unique experiences, perspectives, and expectations. It provides in-person learning opportunities in every sector, industry, and community to grow leaders across generational teams. She felt that the original premise of Stone Soup, how generosity and collaboration can overcome fear, presented a unique opportunity for Roots & Rounds activities as well as a resource to the general public. “I believe that updating the story to a relatable modern-day situation helps us share the message with a broad audience. We want younger and older people alike to know and feel their value to strong and thriving communities and teams through greater respect and inclusion,” Gollnick said.
Diverse Perspectives
Told through the eyes of two young campers, Stone Soup: A Familiar Folktale Brings All Ages to the Table, is a stand-alone resource sharing how everyone—regardless of age—has something valuable to offer. However, the book’s familiar premise is expanded in Roots & Rounds’s facilitated events and workshop programs. “One of the best ways to use the book is as a prompt as folks gather to cook and share a meal, opening conversations that might not otherwise be broached. The book includes a recipe, discussion questions, and instructions that make it easy for readers to participate. Groups have fun as likes, dislikes, strengths, and weaknesses are revealed in a way that builds camaraderie and trust—it’s a comfortable approach to address diversity, equality, and inclusion challenges of any kind,” Gollnick said.
Gollnick’s collaboration with the book’s illustrator, Kelly Heinz, speaks to how she values intergenerational teams. Gollnick shared, “Kelly and I met years ago when she was still in high school, and I was mid-career; several years later, she interned for me as a graphic designer. Then a few years ago I asked her to help test Roots & Rounds’s program content and serve in a leadership role. That led to a discussion on creating our own version of Stone Soup using characters from multiple generations to be inclusive of diverse perspectives, something that’s so important today."
The Author & Illustrator
Christel Gollnick, founder of the nonprofit organization Roots & Rounds, Inc., enjoys helping people of all generations grow and work better together. She specializes in nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development with a focus on improving communications, relationships, and performance. A Minnesota native, Christel now lives in northwest Missouri in a log home with her husband, daughter, and French Brittany puppy. She is a lifelong lover of camping adventures, children’s literature, flying hot air balloons, designing quilts, gardening, cooking, and hosting gatherings of family and friends who have many different life perspectives.
Kelly Heinz is a graphic designer and illustrator living in Kansas City, Missouri. Her biggest inspiration is the beautiful world around her. When she isn’t creating, she can be found reading, hiking, and spending time with her family. This is her first picture book, and she can’t wait to share her artwork with readers of all ages!
The Book
Stone Soup: A Familiar Folktale Brings All Ages to the Table
Christel A. K. Gollnick
Illustrations by Kelly Heinz
40 pages, 8 x 8 inches, Color Illustrations
Fairy Tales & Folklore, Adaptations, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 978-1-965278-07-9, $24.95 (Hardcover)
Mission Point Press, April 10, 2025
Copies are available for preorder at Bookshop.org, Amazon, and other online retailers. On its April 10 publication date, it will be available for purchase wherever books are sold. For information or to arrange for signings and events, contact the author at generations@rootsandrounds.org.
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