Jacob's Tree

by Holly Keller

Jacob is the smallest bear in his family and although everyone tells him he will grow, he finds it hard to wait, so he takes vitamins and does stretches to speed up the growth process, but with little success.

Genres: Picture Books

24 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 1999

About the author

Holly Keller is an American author and illustrator of children’s books, celebrated for her warm storytelling and distinctive minimalist cartoon style, often featuring animal protagonists. A lifelong reader and artist, she studied history before turning to illustration, encouraged by a design professor to pursue picture books. Her debut publications introduced a body of work known for gentle humor and emotional insight. Keller’s stories frequently explore themes such as adoption, belonging, friendship, sibling bonds, and coping with loss, offering young readers reassurance alongside entertainment. In addition to writing and illustrating her own titles, she has created artwork for texts by other children’s authors. Her books have received numerous honors and remain widely appreciated for their clarity, empathy, and timeless appeal.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jacob has always been the smallest ... smaller than brother Sidney and sister Rose. He can’t wait to get bigger and do things everyone else can do (like see himself in the mirror, reach the cookies, etc.) So his father measures him against the tree outside. He sees no progress at first, but one day he discovers he has grown.

[Esodhiambo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Topic: growth
Patience

Primary grades