Jacob, the gender-creative boy from the series starting with Jacob’s New Dress, is back in a timely story about book censorship, broaching the topic in a relatable, kid-friendly way with plenty of room for discussion.
“Jacob looked for the penguin book, but it wasn’t on the shelf,” it begins, obviously referencing the beloved but much-challenged And Tango Makes Three. When Jacob tells a librarian that it’s missing, she doesn’t say that it’s checked out, but simply replies, “Yes, it is,” and suggests another title. At home, Jacob reads his copy of the book with his mom; it’s clearly a favorite.
At school the next day, classmate Emily complains that her Dad makes better lunches than her Papa. Classmate Noah asks, “You have two dads?”
Jacob observes, “Just like in the penguin book!” The story is one of Emily’s favorites, too, and she offers to show Noah. It’s clear she wants him to see a family like hers. Jacob tells her the book is missing, though.
When Jacob asks a librarian about it, she explains that “some people” are unhappy with some of the books in the school, including the penguin one, and so the books have been removed while the school figures things out. Jacob notes that his mom has told him some people don’t like it because the penguins are two dads. Emily immediately wants to know what’s wrong with that, and the librarian assures her that nothing is.
Later, on the playground, Noah wants to know what the book is about. Jacob and the other kids act out the story, using rocks as eggs and pretending to care for their chick. It’s all very cute, and the kids are clearly engaged and happy.
That night, Jacob tells his mother about their play acting, and says that Emily is sad the book is gone. He asks his mother if the school can get the book back, and she tells him they can try.
There’s a lot to like here: the child’s-eye perspective on the impact of book bans; the gentle depiction of why representation is important; the fact that Jacob unremarkably wears a dress throughout; and the ending that doesn’t offer a saccharine resolution, but leaves room for hope. It’s a book that shouldn’t be necessary—but given the current climate, it should be a helpful conversation starter for children experiencing book bans and the grown-ups seeking to explain them.
I do wish it had included backmatter with some resources for grown-ups dealing with book bans and challenges; luckily, the new (2024) School and Library Edition of And Tango Makes Three itself has just that. Still, this is a recommended volume that should be a great conversation starter for children experiencing book bans and the grown-ups seeking to explain them.
Jacob and Emily are White; Noah, friend Sophie, and some of the other children in the class are people of color.
