PEBBLES AND THE BIGGEST NUMBER

A small butterfly is keen on big numbers in Benun’s picture book.

Pebbles, a monarch butterfly, loves to count. One day, he begins to wonder what the biggest number is, and he flutters around asking his animal friends about the biggest numbers they know. A camel knows the temperature of the sun, an eel mentions the number of volts of electricity in a lightning bolt, and a group of ants describe what 20 quadrillion of something looks like. Pebbles continues his quest until, after a narrow, eagle-assisted escape from a tsunami (“Thanks a sextillion,” the newly number-savvy Pebbles enthuses), he meets another butterfly who teaches him about the concept of infinity. Pebbles’ journey takes him to many global ecosystems where, with the help of characters including the East Asian Ms. Scientist, he learns about numbers, other animals, and weather phenomena like avalanches and earthquakes. Helpful “Number Notes,” which provide mathematical information along with additional facts about animals in small sidebars, are peppered throughout the narrative. The adorable full-color illustrations by Watson are set against mixed-media collaged backgrounds, which add layers of depth to the images. The representation of a female scientist is a lovely touch as well. Benun’s engaging story will appeal to children of a variety of ages and levels of mathematical skill.

A whimsical tale calculated to teach kids mathematical concepts.