Pebbles and the Biggest Number
Pebbles and the Biggest Number is a children's book by author Joey Benun.
Contents
Synopsis
The book follows Pebbles the butterfly as he travels the world in search of the biggest number. The story begins with Pebbles feeling bored with counting the same small number of objects in his garden. Eager for a change, he embarks on a quest to find bigger numbers. Along the way, he visits a variety of different ecosystems and encounters diverse animals, including a camel, an electric eel, and a frog. These creatures introduce him to larger and larger numbers related to their respective habitats, such as the temperature of the sun or the voltage in a lightning bolt. Despite facing several natural disasters such as an earthquake, an avalanche, and a tsunami, Pebbles perseveres with the help of his animal friends. The story concludes with Pebbles discovering that there is no "biggest number," as numbers are truly infinite. Fun facts about numbers and nature are included throughout the book, along with a glossary and number chart at the end
Development
Benun has had a lifelong fascination with numbers. From a young age, he was drawn to big numbers and was particularly interested in learning what came after a trillion. As soon as he could, he turned to Google to satisfy his curiosity and discovered numbers such as quadrillion, quintillion, sextillion, and beyond. Fascinated by his findings, Benun copied down the numbers, color-coded them, and arranged them by size, creating a rudimentary book.
His love for large numbers was further fueled at the age of 10 while watching the TV game show 1 vs. 100. While the contestant was unsure, Benun confidently identified "nonillion" as the “real” number, not dubrillion. His passion for numbers continued into adulthood. In the summer of 2022, while having lunch with his niece and nephews, he noticed their excitement while discussing the biggest numbers they knew. This sparked the idea for his debut book. Benun was aware that not many books existed on the topic and that research might be difficult, but he was up for a challenge. He looked for a fun, creative way to teach children about numbers in the world around them. To connect with young children, he decided to create a character that loved to learn and explore. Thus, Pebbles was born.
Benun’s inspiration for using a butterfly as the main character came from The Very Hungry Caterpillar. At the end of his journey counting small numbers, that caterpillar becomes a BIG, beautiful butterfly. "Why can’t he continue to count big numbers?" Benun thought. He had planned to contact the author, Eric Carle, to discuss a possible collaboration. Unfortunately, Carle passed away before they could connect.
Illustration
Pebbles and the Biggest Number was illustrated by Laura Watson, who was once ranked as the top recommendation by the online editorial website Reedsy on their list for children's book illustrators.
Growing up, Watson loved to draw, paint, and craft. This led her to study art and illustration at York University and Sheridan College, respectively. Today, she specializes in creating lighthearted and whimsical illustrations for children's books, magazines, and various other platforms. Watson is renowned for her work with bright, textured swatches of color, using a digitally compiled method that looks fresh and hand-painted. With over 35 books to her credit, her clients include Scholastic, Capstone, and Cambridge University Press. More info.
Publication
Pebbles and the Biggest Number was released on January 24, 2023. The book is available in the United States, through Amazon, and internationally through Benun's website.
Critical Reception
Pebbles and the Biggest Number, released in January 2023, garnered widespread critical acclaim. On Goodreads, it achieved a 4.9-star average rating from over 850 reviews, praised for being well-written, engaging, and beautifully illustrated.
Critics echoed these sentiments. Dr. Jen Harrison of Children's Book Review commended its introduction of complex math and science concepts to young readers. Booklife by Publishers Weekly featured it as an Editor’s Pick for its STEM educational value. Leigh Kimberly Zoby from Reader Views Kids lauded its teachable moments, deeming it ideal for home and educational settings. Sarah Poulette from the US Review of Books and Jordan Ehmann from Indies Today highlighted its ability to simplify and make math fun.
The book's illustrations were equally praised. Blue Ink Review admired Watson’s playful and emotive art, and the San Francisco Book Review and Independent Book Review noted the lively, diverse scenes. Literary Titan appreciated the illustrations' exquisite details and thoughtful layout.
The inclusion of science and number facts received universal acclaim. Barbara Miller of Pacific Book Review and Self-Publishing Review noted its informative content, and Indie Reader praised the hidden STEM knowledge. Children’s Literature and Kristi Elizabeth from the Manhattan Book Review commended the informative 'Dig Deeper' section and endpapers. Online Book Club recognized the author's extensive research.
The narrative was also appreciated for its blend of STEM learning with themes of friendship, discovery, and teamwork, as noted by The Book Commentary. BookTrib, Kirkus Reviews, and Foreword Reviews praised its re-readability and accessibility for children of various ages and mathematical skills. Children's Literature and Midwest Book Review recommended it for pre-K through early elementary collections, with the latter suggesting its suitability for toddler math introductions.
Read all reviews of Pebbles and the Biggest Number
Awards
- 2023 - National Indie Excellence Award for Children’s Non-Fiction and Picture Books: All-Ages
- 2023 - Mom's Choice Award for Children's Picture Books: Science & Technology
- 2023 - Purple Dragonfly Book Award (Grand Prize)
- 2023 - Moonbeam Children’s Book Award for Non-Fiction – Picture Book
- 2023 - Readers' Favorite Book Award for Children - Picture Book
- 2023 - American Fiction Award for Best Cover Design: Children's Books
- 2023 - IAN Book of the Year Award for Children’s Illustrated and Children's/Juvenile Non-Fiction
- 2023 - NAIWE Book Award for Children’s Books
- 2023 - Royal Dragonfly Book Award for Animals/Pets, Best Illustrations, Best Interior Design, Children’s Nonfiction, Education, Picture Books 6 & Older, STEM, and Website
- 2023 - SCBWI Spark Award for Picture Books
- 2024 - Feathered Quill Book Award for Children's Picture Book, Debut Author, and Animal-Children's/YA
Educational Usage and Influence
This book contains ideas that are educational in nature, including but not limited to:
- Predictability: The pattern of numbers continues to grow larger throughout the story.
- Mathematics: Number terminology and visualization.
- Nature/Biology: Descriptions of different animals and habitats.
- Relationships: Explores friendships and connections among a diverse array of other living beings.
- Self-esteem: Never giving up and believing in yourself.
- Continuing Study Materials: Opportunities to utilize links and additional information for continued study.
External Links
Issues and Bans
Vanity Press Scam
In 2021, Benun engaged a self-publishing agency to aid in the development of Pebbles and the Biggest Number. After accepting payment, the agency provided subpar services, prompting Benun to request a refund. The team, however, was uncooperative, ignoring his emails and calls.
Further investigation revealed that the company had provided false information online and was linked to a group scam based in Pakistan. However, no legal action could be taken as the company address provided was fake and only served as a mail center. Despite these setbacks, Benun published the manuscript himself with the assistance of various freelancers sourced from Reedsy and Fiverr).
Chinese Customs Incident
In 2022, Chinese customs confiscated 1,000 printed copies of the first edition of Pebbles and the Biggest Number due to an illustrated map of China that did not include the islands of Taiwan and Hainan. The illustration was intended to portray how many grains of sand could fit in an area as large as China. Neither Benun nor the illustrator were aware of the political sensitivity surrounding the issue, and were subsequently informed that distributing such material in China could result in jail time for the printers. To resolve the issue, Benun decided to produce a revised edition of the book, which featured a map of the continental USA in place of the original China illustration. For the remaining copies of the original version, Benun had the printer place a sticker over the map of China with an amended illustration that included Hainan and Taiwan. Both versions of the book will be in circulation and labeled accordingly.
