JACOB'S MISSING BOOK

Jacob—whom readers may remember from the oft-banned Jacob’s New Dress (2018)—discovers that a beloved book has been removed from the school library.

Jacob adores “the penguin book”—clearly And Tango Makes Three (2005), though never referred to by name—but it’s missing! Later, his classmate Emily, who has two dads, wants to show the book to Noah, but their teacher explains that “some people are unhappy with the books we have in our library.” Jacob knows it’s because the penguins are both dads. Since Noah still doesn’t know what the book is about, the kids decide to play penguins at recess, gathering rocks and pretending to hatch eggs. The story ends with Jacob’s mother reading the book to him at bedtime and the two deciding to try to get the book reinstated in the library. The narrative seems to have been designed with adults in mind. It not only addresses naysayers who may be concerned about a child “turning gay” after reading LGBTQ+ books, but also winks and nods at those already in the know. Though it may help validate kids’ feelings around book banning, it doesn’t address their questions or concerns: The adult characters are frustratingly cagey about why books are challenged, nor do they offer concrete guidance about responding to censorship. Still, the book could be useful as an entry point for more in-depth discussions. Jacob presents white; his community is racially diverse.

An anodyne lecture that feels targeted toward the grown-ups in the room.