Stalactite & Stalagmite - by Drew Beckmeyer (Hardcover)

About the Book

Two little mineral piles, Stalactite and Stalagmite, foster a friendship over millions of years as they grow closer together, figuratively and literally.

Book Synopsis

A Caldecott Honor Book
Four starred reviews!
"Both gloriously expansive and goofy--in short, everything young readers could ask for." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

A hilarious and thought-provoking picture book about two little cave rock formations who witness the entire history of the world, perfect for fans of Oliver Jeffers, Jon Klassen, and Mac Barnett.

DRIP. DRIP. DRIP.

Time flies for two charming little cave nubs, Stalactite and Stalagmite. Over millions of years, creatures and things pass in and out of their cave, everything from a trilobite, an ichthyostega, and a triceratops, to a ground sloth and a bat.

When you are an ageless rock formation, it's nice to have a friend who's always there. But what will happen when the two nubs grow enough to finally touch?

Review Quotes

*A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year*

*A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year*

★ "Spirituality and valuable STEM lessons in a genuinely sweet and funny package? Yes, please, to this essential purchase."--School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"Through the eyes of two charming and goofy cave formations, this witty earth science picture book imparts a wealth of information stealthily cloaked in wonderfully droll humor." --Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"A playfully inventive and quietly profound look at time, friendship, and change. . . Beckmeyer's richly textured, mixed-media spreads bring warmth and depth to this dynamic world. With just two eyes and a mouth, the formations feel full of personality--patient witnesses to the slow, wondrous passage of time. . . Stalactite and Stalagmite turns deep time into something poignant and full of wonder--perfect for sparking curiosity about the vastness of history and the quiet magic of slow, inevitable change."--Shelf Awareness

★ "Two charming anthropomorphic nubs of cave rock take center stage in [a] superbly funny and profound introduction to the history of the world thus far. . . an affecting, thought-provoking exchange in a book filled with opportunities for readers to ponder the wonder and beauty of our world--and the loveliness of having a trusted companion through it all."--Bookpage, STARRED REVIEW

*A March/April 2025 Indie Next Pick*

★ "The nubs have expressive faces, and the mixed-media artwork lends a comic quality to the wonderfully tactile, collagelike spreads. . . Beckmeyer has a gift for conveying heady doses of science with whimsy and humor; his wildly original tale is a poignant friendship tale, a master class in storytelling, and probing philosophy perfectly pitched to a young audience. Both gloriously expansive and goofy--in short, everything young readers could ask for." --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

*JLG Gold Selection*

★ "Loosely drawn and collaged multimedia spreads carry a light-hearted goofiness that chimes with the characters' offhand view of earth-shattering events. . . The premise of a bond that lasts eras and epochs poses all kinds of possibilities, here pursued with wit, curiosity, and sparky energy." --Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

About the Author

Drew Beckmeyer received a Caldecott Honor for his picture book Stalactite & Stalagmite. He is an author-illustrator and schoolteacher based in Los Angeles. He is the author-illustrator of I Am a Tornado, The First Week of School, Stalactite & Stalagmite, and The Long Island, which was longlisted for the Klaus Flugge Prize, and the illustrator of Dear Wild Child. Visit him online at DrewBeckmeyer.com.