Big Book Tour
The world's largest book is by Texans, about Texans, and touring Texas this year
“I Am Texas” visited the Alamo in San Antonio during the months of March and April. It comes next to Austin.
Texans love to tell tall tales, and, as they say, everything is bigger in the Lone Star State. Now, we can officially claim the tallest tale of them all, thanks to I Am Texas, which the Guinness World Records decreed in November 2022 was the largest published book in the world.
The giant tome is a 400-page ode to the Lone Star State, standing 7-foot-2 tall, and more than 11 inches wide, and weighing 496 pounds. The project took over two years to complete, and broke the previous Guinness World Record, held by Brazil since 2007.
Written by thousands of students in the 3rd-12th grade from 72 school districts, the book has 1,000 stories, poems, and artwork all about Texas. Dedicated to the Uvalde community, the book is currently touring Texas, kicking off last fall in Galveston at The Bryan Museum.
On Tuesday, May 2, it will first go on display at the Texas State Capitol building in Austin. Then, it will travel 270 miles to the Stark Museum in Orange, Texas, from May 10 through July 29 before moving on to Houston (The Galleria: August 9-23), Kerrville (Schreiner University (September 4 through October 2), and Dallas (Dallas Historical Society, November 20 through December 1).
The book's publishers include the iWRITE Organization, a nonprofit that builds student confidence through writing; The Bryan Museum in Galveston; and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator team, Brad Meltzer, and Christopher Eliopoulos. Phillips 66 was also an official sponsor.
Meltzer and Eliopoulous previously collaborated on a biography series, Ordinary People, which focuses on well-known figures in history. Meltzer wanted to give his own children role models and heroes that demonstrate kindness and compassion.
“We were ready to do something BIG for our 13th book, and nothing is bigger or more exciting for kids than getting published —plus breaking a world record,” said Melissa Williams Murphy, iWRITE founder and executive director of The Bryan Museum. “We must elevate [children] and allow them to have pride in themselves, their work, who they are, and where they are from because perception of self matters and will shape our country’s future.”
Texans can purchase a smaller version of the book; all profits will provide children with more writing and illustrating opportunities through iWRITE's publishing programs. Visit Iamtx.org to learn more about the book and stay up to date on its tour dates.
