Picture book · Children
Stalactite & Stalagmite
A Big Tale from a Little Cave
written by Drew Beckmeyer, illustrated by Drew Beckmeyer
Honors
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About the book
Stalactite & Stalagmite: A Big Tale from a Little Cave by Drew Beckmeyer tells the story of the Earth from an unusual point of view: two rock formations growing toward each other in a cave, one hanging from the ceiling and one rising from the floor. Drip by drip, over enormous stretches of time, the pair chat while life outside changes around them, from ancient sea creatures to dinosaurs and far beyond. Their slow, patient growth makes a funny contrast with the fast-moving events of the wider world. Beckmeyer's collaged, mixed-media art brings a playful tone to big ideas about deep time, and back matter offers more background on the science. The book received a 2026 Caldecott Honor.
For parents
Ages 4–8 · Pre-K–Grade 3
The story moves through Earth's long history, including the mass extinction that ended the age of dinosaurs, in a light and playful way.
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