Super Smalls’ New Book Transports Kids to the World of Gemstones

They’re sisters, jewelers, and business partners—and now Bianca Gottesman and Maria Dueñas Jacobs are authors, releasing their first book to introduce children to the world of gems and birthstones.

Out today, Jacobs and Gottesman’s Super Book of Gems is meant for a co-reading experience between parent and child or between siblings, allowing them to explore gemstones and jewelry from the comfort of a couch or reading nook, the sisters say. Inspired by their own childhood explorations, the book comes out of their business, Super Smalls, which produces jewelry and craft kits for young people.

“When we set out to write this book, we wanted to bring together that same love of active learning and discovery—to make something that felt hands-on and transporting,” Jacobs says.

“The Super Book of Gems is designed like a treasure chest: You journey through the science of how gems are formed, uncover the history and lore that surround them, and end up inside the glittering world of jewelry itself.”

With photos and text that blends science, historic tales, and mystical lore, the book goes through the calendar, explaining each month’s birthstone and why it is special. It covers not only gem origins but also the innovative ways that major jewelry brands such as Bulgari, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Cartier have highlighted gemstones in their jewelry-making mastery.

While one of Super Smalls’ most popular product lines is called Gemify, writing about gems was new territory for Gottesman and Jacobs. But they are both lifelong readers, so working together on a book felt natural, they say.

“We read together all the time, especially to one another while we played or did projects,” says Gottesman. “We had a subscription to Highlights, which was full of fun facts and activities woven into stores. It was the perfect mix of being entertained and learning something new.”

Another big influence was National Geographic, and the sisters fondly recall how those bright yellow magazines were stacked in their family room.

“That’s where we first read about geology and nature, though our real fascination with gems came through travel,” Jacobs says. “Each summer, our family would take one big trip, often to places rich with history, like Guatemala, where we learned about the Maya civilization and how they transformed natural materials into art, or China, where the palaces and temples were filled with jewels and craftsmanship.”

Super Smalls Super Book of Gems offers educational yet engaging stories, like those that authors Maria Dueñas Jacobs and Bianca Gottesman enjoyed when they read Highlights and National Geographic magazines as kids.

Jacobs and Gottesman now encourage that same desire to explore and participate in the larger world by sharing stories with their own children, and by running a company for young customers.

“With Super Smalls, we make play feel magical, and this book was a natural next step—to take that magic and add a layer of learning,” Jacobs says.

“Super Book of Gems is educational, yes, but in a way that feels fun, colorful, and completely approachable. I wanted kids to see that gems aren’t just sparkly objects. They have stories, histories, and connections to people and places around the world,” says Gottesman.

“You might learn that diamonds form deep in the earth’s mantle and can be billions of years old, or that emeralds were Cleopatra’s favorite stone, or that pearls are the only gemstones created by a living creature,” she notes.

“It’s about sparking curiosity—showing that behind every gemstone is science, geography, mythology, and a little bit of magic—while keeping everything rooted in play.”

Jacobs adds, “We wanted to make something that pulls readers off their screens and into a world of tangible wonder, where they can marvel at the multilayered magic of nature and the artistry of human craftsmanship across centuries.”

“If readers of any age walk away feeling more connected, inspired to explore, or simply amazed that something gorgeous formed deep within the earth and then became an object of such meaning and beauty for generations of people-that’s the greatest takeaway we could hope for,” Gottesman says.

Top: Bianca Gottesman and Maria Dueñas Jacobs, cofounders of the accessories and craft kits company Super Smalls and coauthors of the Super Book of Gems (photos courtesy of Super Smalls)