Ouch! Tales of Gravity

By Kate Simpson

Illustrated by Andy Hardiman

Reviewed by Melissa Salisbury

If you have ever wanted a clear, simple explanation of the nature of gravity, for younger or older readers, Ouch! Tales of Gravity is the book for you.

In this easy-to-read picture book, Kate Simpson (a chemical engineer) has done a stellar job of breaking down how gravity works, and what life would be like without it, using a friendly and funny narrative voice.

The facts about gravity in the book’s back matter provide a short and sweet summary of how Isaac Newton and Albert Einstein established what gravity does and how it does it. Plus, there is a simple experiment using water bottles to provide children with a practical demonstration of how gravity works.

This picture book will likely appeal to kids who prefer fact over fiction, especially science facts, but it does such a good job of telling a story about gravity it will likely appeal to fiction lovers too.

Andy Hardiman’s colourful illustrations complement the text beautifully and add an additional layer of humour, keeping a heavy (pun intended) topic, light-hearted and entertaining.

Ouch! Tales of Gravity is a great home or school STEM resource aimed at children aged 6-8 years, but worthwhile for any age.

Allen & Unwin Children’s Books 2022