I Am Smoke by Henry L. Herz

 

I AM SMOKE

by Henry L Herz

Illustrated by Merce Lopez Ascanoio

Tilbury House Publishers

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING TOMORROW,

SEPTEMBER 14th!!!

Smoke speaks in mesmerizing riddles: “I lack a mouth, but I can speak…. I lack hands, but I can push out unwanted guests…. I’m gentler than a feather, but I can cause harm….”This rhythmically powerful narration is complemented by illustrations in which swirling smoke was captured on art paper held over smoky candle flames, and the dancing smoke textures were then deepened and elaborated with watercolors and Photoshop finishes. With this unique method, Mercè López “let the smoke decide how the idea I had in mind would dance with it, giving freedom to the images.” The resulting illustrations are astounding, and they resonate with the otherworldly text.

GOODREADS

BOOK BUZZ

“Herz presents a provocative and unique look at the lifecycle and benefits of smoke throughout the millennia. Lopez’s multimedia artwork further illuminates the ethereal nature of smoke as it drifts and dances across the page.”
– John Rocco, author/illustrator of the Caldecott Honor book BLACKOUT

“A fascinating, refreshing, and beautifully atmospheric take on something often taken for granted. I’ll never look at smoke the same way again!”
– Matthew Cordell, author/illustrator of the Caldecott Medal-winning book WOLF IN SNOW

“I Am Smoke is an absolutely beautiful book, where smoke is both poetry and science. Readers will rest, float, and dance along with smoke’s quiet power across time and traditions. I have lingered over its pages more than once, and I’m sure young readers will, too.”
– Doreen Cronin, author of the Caldecott Honor and NY Times bestselling book CLICK, CLACK, MOO: COWS THAT TYPE

“Wowwwwww”
– Raina Telgemeier, #1 NY Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Publishers Weekly bestselling author/illustrator

And here he is...

Henry Herz authored 11 traditionally published children's titles: MONSTER GOOSE NURSERY RHYMES (Pelican, 2015), WHEN YOU GIVE AN IMP A PENNY (Pelican, 2016), MABEL & THE QUEEN OF DREAMS (Schiffer, 2016), LITTLE RED CUTTLEFISH (Pelican, 2016), CAP'N REX & HIS CLEVER CREW (Sterling, 2017), HOW THE SQUID GOT TWO LONG ARMS (Pelican, 2018), ALICE'S MAGIC GARDEN (Familius, 2018), GOOD EGG AND BAD APPLE (Schiffer, 2018), 2 PIRATES + 1 ROBOT (Kane Miller, 2019), I AM SMOKE (Tilbury House, 2021), and THE MAGIC SPATULA (Month9 Books, 2022).

He sold the children's short stories: “Born to Dance” (Highlights for Children), “Pay the Piper” (Highlights for Children), “Maria & Maslow” (Highlights for Children, 2020), “A Proper Party” (Ladybug Magazine), "Bar Mitzvah on Planet Kishka" (sci-fi MG story in COMING OF AGE anthology, Albert Whitman & Co., 2021), "The Castle on the Loch" (YA story in CASTLE OF HORROR anthology, Castle Bridge Media, 2020), and “Cheating Death” (dark sci-fi YA story in THE HITHERTO SECRET EXPERIMENTS OF MARIE CURIE anthology, Blackstone Publishing, 2022).

Henry edited three anthologies: BEYOND THE PALE adult dark fantasy (Birch Tree Publishing, 2014) – stories by Saladin Ahmed, Peter S. Beagle, Heather (Zac) Brewer, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Kami Garcia, Nancy Holder, and Jane Yolen. COMING OF AGE: 13 B’NAI MITZVAH STORIES middle grade #ownvoices (Albert Whitman & Co, 2022) – stories by Sarah Aronson, Barbara Bottner, Stacia Deutsch, Debbie Reed Fischer, Debra Garfinkle, Alan Katz, Nancy Krulik, Stacie Ramey, Jonathan Rosen, Melissa Roske, Laura Shovan. THE HITHERTO SECRET EXPERIMENTS OF MARIE CURIE young adult horror (Blackstone Publishing, 2022) – stories by Mylo Carbia, Stacia Deutsch, Sarah Beth Durst, Alethea Kontis, Jonathan Maberry, Seanan McGuire, Scott Sigler, Scott Westerfeld, Jane Yolen.

Henry is an editor at Running Wild Press. He's an SCBWI member and moderates author panels yearly at San Diego Comic-Con. He earned a BS in Engineering from Cornell U., an MS in Engineering from George Washington U., and an MA in Political Science from Georgetown U.

Review: Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew by Henry L. Herz

CAP'N REX & HIS CLEVER CREW

by Henry L. Herz

Illustrated by Benjamin Schipper

Sterling Children Publishers

Picture Book 

ages 3 and up

32 pages

Shiver me timbers! It's the DINOSAUR PIRATES!

Meet Captain Rex and his band of buccaneers. These dinosaur pirates sail the seven seas in search of buried treasure, but whenever they hit an obstacle—like a giant shark or pea-soup fog—the crew members are quick to say they can’t overcome. To this, Captain Rex just glares with teeth bared and says, “CAN’T YE?” And, somehow, the crew always comes up with a clever solution.
A delightful story about using one’s creativity and individual strengths to solve problems. It will encourage kids everywhere to think and say, “I can!”

MY TIDBITS

Dinosaurs set sail in a cute and quirky pirate adventure.

These dinosaurs are serious pirates, and they are ready to head into adventure. Dangers mount as they embark to find the buried treasure, but no matter how hard things get, these pirates are determined to make it through.

Dinosaurs meets pirates--a combination which is sure to make many young boys' hearts pound faster and their imaginations take flight. This isn't a serious book, but sets out on pure adventure and fun. The captain and his crew are as salty as pirates should be but still pack a ton of humor and silly fun. Blunders and troubles mark every step of their journey, and it's fun to see what happens to them on the next page.This is not an informative book in the sense that learning comes first. rather, this is a quirky adventure with a bit of pirating fun and a few things which can be learned along the way - the kind kids can take out and use to pretend they are pirates too.

The text is kept at a minimum and comes bright and bold when the situation demands it. Fun, pirate words and phrases are peppered in between the excitement and silliness, and just in case some of these terms aren't familiar, a glossary with definitions is hoisted on the last pages. The illustrations are simple and bring across the atmosphere well. Each hilarious event comes to life, insuring giggles and snorts. This is a lovely adventure, which sails off into goofiness with a crew one will either love or simply find odd. But it's a combination which is hard not to smile at and enjoy.

And here they are. . .

The author. . .

Henry Herz has an engineering BS from Cornell, an engineering MS from George Washington University, and an MA from Georgetown University, none of which helps him write children's books. Nevertheless, his love of fantasy and science fiction inspired him to write the picture books Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes, When You Give an Imp a Penny, Mable and the Queen of Dreams and Little Red Cuttlefish. He lives in San Diego, CA with his wife and two coauthor sons, and enjoys eating Boston Creme Pie.  You can find out more about him and his works at henryherz.com.

Benjamin Schipper has created illustrations for Highlights for Kids, Knopf, Penguin Random House, Amplify, Chick-Fil-A, and Children's Theatre of Charlotte. He lives in Greenville, SC 

with his wife Karen and their little black dog Willow.