“This picture book is one in a gazillion.”—Jane O’Connor, the New York Times–bestselling author of the Fancy Nancy series
Did you know that the earth is covered in three trillion trees? And that seven billion people weigh about the same as ten quadrillion ants? Our world is full of constantly changing numbers, from a hundred billion trillion stars in space to thirty-seven billion rabbits on Earth. Can you imagine that many of anything?
The playful illustrations from New York Times–bestselling artist Isabel Greenberg and the friendly, straightforward voice of author Seth Fishman illuminate some of the biggest numbers in the universe—a hundred billion trillion stars—and the smallest—one unique and special YOU. Here is a book for story time, for science time, for math time, for bedtime, and all the times in between.
Perfect for curious children, classrooms eager for STEM content, and readers who have devoured Ada Twist, Scientist and How Much Is a Million?
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Publishers Weekly
07/17/2017
In a book that encourages readers to observe the world with wonder and curiosity, Fishman (The Well’s End) delights in throwing mammoth, even unfathomable figures at them, using estimation to round to the nearest billion or trillion as necessary. Beginning with the sun, Fishman explains that it’s just one star among “(maybe) 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars.” (In the corner of the spread, “a hundred billion trillion” appears, helping readers boggled by those 23 zeroes—or adults reading aloud.) He then rattles off staggering numbers about the planet and its inhabitants: 240,000 miles, the distance at which the moon orbits the Earth, “is about ten times around the earth, or almost 420,000,000 yous.” Greenberg (The One Hundred Nights of Hero) illustrates in a chunky, cheery cartoon style, switching between scenes of interplanetary vastness and intimate ones of children reading, adding warmth to counterbalance the unwieldy numbers. An afterword dives deeper into the power of estimation and extrapolation when trying to make sense of things that seem unknowable at first glance. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit. Illustrator’s agent: Seth Fishman, Gernert Company. (Sept.)
Jane O’Connor
I read this mind-blowing book, which translates to ten minutes—that’s 600 seconds—of pure fun. How unique—or should I say this picture book is one in a gazillion. It will make a great read aloud.
Kate Beaton
It is quite a wondrous thing to imagine the make-believe, but any child reading this book will conclude that the real magic around them is in every breath, every minute, every life lived, and that they themselves are a wondrous thing.
Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
This is a math teacher’s dream, and Greenberg’s imaginative cartoons spreads, in which characters bound tipsily through their milieu viewed from varying perspectives, will retain the interest of children about to exit primary school. It will also have appeal for dreamers who like to think big thoughts.
Booklist Online
Greenberg combines abstract art and childlike cartooning in bold colors, thick outlines, and paint-splattered scenes to make Fishman’s engaging text come alive. ...A lively glimpse into the enormity of the universe in a package well suited to the picture-book set.
Horn Book (starred review)
Fishman and Greenberg engagingly highlight the wondrousness of numbers and stars, as well as just about everything about our home planet. ...[it] beautifully succeeds in its mission to convey to young readers the vastness of the numbers in our midst while reassuring them that...“there’s only one of YOU.”
School Library Journal
08/01/2017
Gr 2–4—Very likely breaking the record for the number of zeroes in a picture book, Fishman presents a tally of humongous figures—beginning with the estimated population of stars in the universe and going on to an "entire world" that is "filled with crazy numbers." The work focuses much more on how awesome and unimaginable these numbers are rather than explaining the intricacies of calculating them. No sources are provided for the totals and only at the end does Fishman admit that the strings of digits are at best ballpark estimates: "sort-of-definitely-ALMOST true." In addition, the author breaks the "-illions" down inconsistently without explaining until the endnote that terms like "billion trillion" and "sextillion" are equivalents. Greenberg places many of the strung-out sums against starry backdrops, with cartoon images of trees, animals, members of a diverse human cast, and other familiar forms, providing starting points for contemplating all those dizzying digits. VERDICT An imagination stretcher for younger audiences who enjoy marveling at mind-bending numbers.—John Peters, Children's Literature Consultant, New York
Kirkus Reviews
2017-06-19
Huge numbers take on an even bigger scale in Fishman and Greenberg's insightful, awe-inspiring picture book.A secret shared between narrator and the reader kicks things off: "The sun is just a star. / And there are (maybe) 100,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars." (Readers will be grateful for the "a hundred billion trillion" printed in the corner.) Stars too many to count, in various sizes and shapes, fill the double-page spread, illustrating the comically large number centered on the page. It's enough to leave most flabbergasted, but Fishman aims for much more as he zeroes in on one particular blue-and-green planet. Even this celestial orb has its secrets: "Blue because it's covered by 370,000,000,000,000,000,000 gallons of water. Green because it's covered in 3,000,000,000,000 trees." From there it's all about the (innumerable) details. For example, 10 quadrillion ants may equal 7.5 billion humans in weight (as terrifying as that sounds); meanwhile, 420 million dogs or guitars lined up head to foot circle the Earth about 10 times. The figures aren't precise, but quibbling over exactness almost misses the point of the book. A constant throughout this excursion, however, is Greenberg's digital artwork, which features bold, thick lines, vibrant colors and shapes, and a diverse cast of nameless characters. More notable perhaps is the author's persistent focus on the reader: "There's only one of YOU." Such a statement threatens to veer into ham-fisted territory, but here it serves to underline how amazing it is to be the only one. An auspicious primer on some very big numbers. (author's note) (Informational picture book. 4-8)
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