Mr. Jacob Reads

Drew Beckmeyer's Stalactite & Stalagmite is a coup, a masterwork, and a treat.

Chloé Alméras' Josephine is a book about harmonious contrapositions.

Jesper Cederstand and Clara Dackenberg's How to Comfort a Monster is about the invaluable futility of helping the helpless.

Deborah Underwood and Jax Chow's Tiny Garden is a book about a child unshaken by the demands of the world.

Loops by Jashar Awan is a story about resilience, cheer, and the failures inherent to success, the setbacks natural to a waxing big kid.

Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson's Milo Imagines the World is a story about a curious and earnest kid working to make sense of the world around him.

WARNING: This nonfiction biography tells the story of resistance heroes in Hitler's Germany. It's important, but listener discretion is advised.

Jessie Sima's Harriet Gets Carried Away is the story of a kid who likes to dress up.

The important thing about Margaret Wise Brown's The Important Book is not that I made a podcast episode on it, but it's gotta count for something, right?

Kevin Henkes comes from Wisconsin, and this is not the end of his many virtues.

Mary Lyn Ray's When You Find the Right Rock is a beautiful book, both in its wide text and in Felicita Sala's gorgeous illustrations.

Cristina Quintero and Sarah Gonzales' The Only Way to Make Bread paints a wide picture with room for every baker to find themselves and to share community.

Drew Beckmeyer's The FIrst Week of School is a collection of stories about what happens when Nobody comes to class.

Judith Viorst and Ray Cruz's classic book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a book about how unfair things can be when you're small and powerless and Australia is so very far away.

Katrina Goldsaito and Yas Imamura's When Cherry Blossoms Fall is a note on sweetness made bitter by ending and ending made beautiful in transience.

Larissa Theule and Teagan White's The Sweater: A Story of Community is a wonderful story about the ways we can (and should) come together to help anyone who finds themselves in our community.

Mo Willem's Welcome: A Mo Willems Guide for New Arrivals is a book aimed at parents but perfect for infants--and probably fun for older kids too!

Karina Iceberg's A Good Hide is a lovely story of a community coming together to turn a moose hide into leather!

Kate Rolfe's Wiggling Words is an honest story about the struggles and joys of reading with dyslexia told in delightful typographic art.

Daniel Nayeri and Vesper Stamper's A Knot is Not a Tangle is a perfect memory of the making of an imperfect, beautiful rug. Keep an eye on the boy's sheep toy, which he keeps as safe as his Grandpa keeps his sheep.

Felicita Sala's Bored is a perfect chance to bore your child and to challenge them to bore you right back!