The Gravity Tree: The True Story of a Tree That Inspired the World

From Emmy Award-winning journalist Anna Crowley Redding comes a captivating nonfiction picture book that explores the fabled apple tree that inspired Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity. From a minor seed to a monumental icon, it inspired the world’s greatest minds, including Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking.

"A sweet windfall of history and inspiration."  —Kirkus (starred review)

"This picture book may resonate with science-minded children." —Booklist

A tree may seem like a rather ordinary thing. But hundreds of years ago, a tree was about to embark on an extraordinary journey. And it all started with just a speck of a seed. . . .

It began in the 1600s with a seed that became the tree that grew the apple that fell right before Isaac Newton’s eyes. This seemingly simple event sparked one of the greatest scientific discoveries—Newton’s theory of gravity! A chain reaction of ideas and discoveries followed from the likes of Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking, who traveled to the place where these scientific journeys began—Isaac’s tree.

From rocketing into space to adorning the queen’s carriage, the Gravity Tree’s unexpectedly remarkable and true life story is a tale for the ages. Award-winning journalist Anna Crowley Redding unearths the story of how something so small could change the world. The Gravity Tree is a beautiful nonfiction picture book to share at home or in the classroom.

A Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year

A Kirkus Children's Best Book of the Year

“"Generations of scientists, including Albert Einstein in 1930 and Stephen Hawking in 1987, have visited the Gravity Tree to pay their respects to Newton...this picture book may resonate with science-minded children."”

"A sweet windfall of history and inspiration."  — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Generations of scientists, including Albert Einstein in 1930 and Stephen Hawking in 1987, have visited the Gravity Tree to pay their respects to Newton…this picture book may resonate with science-minded children.” — Booklist

Anna Crowley Redding loves nothing more than putting on a detective hat to discover a forgotten tale of history, which made The Gravity Tree such fun to write. Anna's stealthy research skills come from an Emmy Award-winning career as an investigative reporter and a lifelong tendency to never mind her own business. Anna is also the author of Rescuing the Declaration of Independence, Google It: A History of Google and Elon Musk: A Mission to Save the World. She lives with her family outside Portland, Maine. You can visit her at n Imamura is an illustrator of many picture books for children including (Kirkus-starred) Winged Wonders by Meeg Pincus and The Very Oldest Pear Tree by Nancy Sanders. She's also a product designer for clients like Anthropologie, Papyrus and Sanrio. She currently lives and works in Portland, Oregon. You can visit her at yasimamura.com.

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