Book Details
Genre & Age: Informational fiction picture book (ages 6+)
Format: Hardcover, 32 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Publisher: Tilbury House (Cherry Lake Publishing Group)
ISBN: 978-1668936849
Get the Book
– From Bookshop
– From Amazon
– From Barnes & Noble
– From Mysterious Galaxy Books
– From Walmart
– From Tilbury House
Goodreads ReviewsWhat reaches everywhere and never tires? Pulling on feathers and galaxies alike? Holding the mighty Milky Way together? Gravity, of course! Told in lyrical, riddling first-person narrative, Gravity boasts of its essential role in life as we know it—from the pulling of the ocean’s tides to the vastness of the stars in the sky. Back matter about the science of gravity and major historical discoveries enhances the book for STEM learning. I Am Gravity is lushly illustrated by Merce Lopez, the award-winning artist of the acclaimed I Am Smoke.
What People Are Saying
“Once again, Herz and López tackle the intangible and make it relatable. I Am Gravity poetically explores the one force that affects all matter while creating a launchpad for further exploration.”
– John Rocco, #1 NY Times bestselling author/illustrator and Caldecott Award honoree
“This brilliantly crafted book takes a nearly unfathomable force and somehow makes it understandable—and feel like a friend.”
– Ame Dyckman, NY Times bestselling author
“From a butterfly landing on a hand to the entire universe, the abstract concept of gravity is lucidly and lyrically explained and illustrated. Gravity as a forever “hug” — I like that.”
– Deborah Freedman, award-winning author/illustrator
“Holy moly. I think you’ve just written something even better than I Am Smoke.”
– Betsy Bird, librarian and blogger for School Library Journal
“A compelling blend of science and poetry transforms a force we cannot see or touch into something relatable and beautiful.”
– Patricia Newman, Sibert Honor author and environmentalist
“I am Gravity, I am That against which the Rocket must struggle, to which the pre-historic wastes submit and are transmuted to the very substance of History.”
– Thomas Pynchon, Gravity’s Rainbow
“The book opens with the most iconic demonstration of gravity, an apple falling. Throughout, Herz tackles both huge concepts—how gravity compresses atoms to form stars and how black holes pull all kinds of matter toward them—and more concrete ones: how gravity allows you to jump up and then come back down to the ground. Gravity narrates in spare yet lyrical verse, explaining how it creates planets and compresses atoms and comparing itself to a hug. Gravity personifies itself at times. Beautiful illustrations depict swirling planets and black holes alongside racially diverse children playing, running, and jumping, all thanks to gravity. Thorough backmatter discusses how Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity and explains Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. An in-depth and visually pleasing look at one of the most fundamental forces in the universe.”
– Kirkus Reviews
Appearances
- Superstar Writing Seminars (Feb 7-10, 2024, Colorado Springs, CO)
- Wondercon (Mar 29-31, 2024, Anaheim Convention Center)
- San Diego Writers Festival (Apr 6, 2024, Coronado Library, San Diego)
- San Diego Writing Workshop (Apr 20, Marina Village, 1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA)
- Book signing at Diesel Del Mar (Apr 21, 2024, 3pm, 12843 El Camino Real, Suite 104, San Diego, CA)
- Book signing at Barnes & Noble Mira Mesa (May 4, 4pm, 10775 Westview Pkwy, San Diego, CA)
- Book signing at Mysterious Galaxy Books with Cindy Jenson-Elliott (May 11, 10:30am, 3555 Rosecrans St #107 San Diego, CA)
- Book signing at Barnes & Noble Carmel Mountain (May 18, 11 am, 11744 Carmel Mountain Rd, San Diego, CA)
- Horror Writers Association (HWA) StokerCon Conference (May 30-Jun 2, 2024, San Diego)
- American Library Association (ALA) Conference (Jun 29-Jul 1, 2024, San Diego)
- San Diego Comic-Con (Jul 26-28, 2024, San Diego Convention Center)
- Temecula Valley Writers & Illustrators / Cartoon-A Paloozah! (Sept. 14, 2024, 41000 Main St, Temecula, CA)
Press
- Tara Lazar’s Storystorm 2024 Day 26: Chana Stiefel Plays with Point of View
- From Smoke to a Force: An Interview with Henry L. Herz About I AM GRAVITY by Betsy Bird in School Library Journal
- Review from Publishers Weekly
- Review from Sandy Brehl at Unpacking the Power of Picture Books
- Simply 7 with Henry Herz: I AM GRAVITY
- I Am Gravity by Henry Herz from Rosemary Kiladitis at Mom Read It
- The Story Behind the Story of I Am Gravity from Lynne Marie
- How to use gravity to teach horizontal & vertical motion at Patricia Newman’s LitLinks
- I Am Gravity by Henry Herz from Debbie Manber Kupfer at Paws4Thought
- Book Giveaway: I Am Gravity from Kathy Temean at Writing & Illustrating.
- Without Gravity, We Wouldn’t Be Here from Beth Anderson at Mining for Heart
- Celebrate National Look Up at the Sky Day with Henry Herz! from Heather Macht at Seasons of Kidlit
- 9 Q’s for Henry Herz + I Am Gravity from author Erin Dealey
- I Am Gravity by Henry Herz from Leah Gonzalez at White Sky Project
- Interview with Henry Herz from Maria Marshall at The Picture Book Buzz
- A Golden Book Club Pick in Golden Magazine Special Edition
More About Gravity
- Introductory video about gravity
- Eclipses make the sun’s gravitational light bending visible
- NASA wants to come up with a new clock for the moon, where seconds tick away faster
- Scientists on the hunt for evidence of quantum gravity’s existence at the South Pole
- Why is our solar system flat?
- Do astronauts experience ‘space headaches’?
- At last, there’s evidence of low-frequency gravitational waves
- Gravity experiments on the kitchen table: Why a tiny, tiny measurement may be a big leap forward for physics
- Quantum gravity unveiled – scientists crack the cosmic code that baffled Einstein
Music!
Gravity is also a popular topic with musical artists! Check out these songs:
- “Follow Me Into the Sun” by I AM Gravity
- “Gravity” by John Mayer
- “Gravity” by Sara Bareilles
- “Gravity” by YoungBoy Never Broke Again (rap)
- “Gravity” by Brent Faiyaz & DJ Dahi (R&B)
henryherz.com 