Skip to Main Content

Stalactite & Stalagmite

A Big Tale from a Little Cave

Illustrated by Drew Beckmeyer

About The Book

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?

About The Author

Photograph (c) Lauder Photography

Drew Beckmeyer 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.

About The Illustrator

Photograph (c) Lauder Photography

Drew Beckmeyer 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.

Why We Love It

“There are very few picture books capable of being both kid-friendly and life-changing to read, and this is one of them. Stalactite & Stalagmite changed my life. It made me laugh, feel, and think for weeks on end. It’s a book that’s for kids and also their grown-ups with gorgeous art for both to appreciate. No one else but Drew could have spun this highly original, funny, and profound tale about two anthropomorphic cave nubs. It’s a universal and timeless story in so many senses of the word.”

—Kristie C., Associate Editor, on Stalactite & Stalagmite

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (March 18, 2025)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781665926645
  • Ages: 4 - 8

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

*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

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images

More books from this author: Drew Beckmeyer