Pebbles and the Biggest Number

4

Every day, Pebbles the butterfly fluttered over his garden and counted the flowers.

“One, two, three . . .”

But today, he stopped short.

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5

It’s always the same small numbers, he thought.

2 eyes

4 wings

6 legs

And 42 flowers.

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6 – 7

There must be bigger numbers out there—bigger than tens and hundreds and even thousands!

But what’s the BIGGEST number?

Pebbles set off to find out.

NUMBER NOTE

1 thousand has three zeros. It looks like this: 1,000

SCIENCE SPOT

Imagine if you could see in front of you and behind you at the same time. Butterflies can because they have thousands of lenses in each eye! We have only one lens per eye.

DID YOU KNOW?

Butterflies have taste sensors on their feet. Aren’t you glad your feet can’t taste your socks? Yuck!

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8 – 9

Pebbles’ first stop was a scorching desert. He spotted a camel enjoying the sunshine.

“Hello, Mr. Camel!” he said. “I’m looking for BIG numbers. What’s the biggest number you know?”

“Hmm. That would be 27 MILLION. That's the temperature of the sun.”

Chameleon (Speech Bubble): The sun’s core is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit, or 15 million degrees Celsius.

SCIENCE SPOT

The sun is 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) away from Earth. It would take a plane 20 years to fly that far!

DID YOU KNOW?

Not all deserts are hot. A desert is a place where very little rain falls. In fact, the world’s largest desert is Antarctica—the coldest continent on Earth!

NUMBER NOTE

1 million has six zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000

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10 – 11

“Wow, that’s hot!” Pebbles said. “And so is this desert! Do you know where I can find some nectar?”

The camel nodded toward some wildflowers. “Try those.”

DID YOU KNOW?

A butterfly uses its tube-shaped mouth, called a proboscis, to drink nectar. That's like having a built-in straw!

FUN FACT

The hottest recorded temperature on Earth was 134 degrees Fahrenheit (57 degrees Celsius). It was measured in a California desert on July 10, 1913.

SCIENCE SPOT

Camels can drink around 500 cups (120 liters) of water in one sitting. Because they store all this water in their blood, they can go up to seven months without drinking again!

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12 – 13

Refreshed from his drink, Pebbles flew on to a tropical rainforest. An electric eel wriggled by.

“Hello, Ms. Eel,” Pebbles said. “What's the biggest number you know?”

“1 BILLION! That's how many volts of electricity are in a lightning bolt.”

The eel lit up. “I only need 600 volts to zap predators.”

Suddenly, lightning FLASHED and thunder BOOMED.

“Take cover, little butterfly!” warned the eel.

Pebbles scrambled under a leaf to wait out the storm.

NUMBER NOTE

1 billion has nine zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000

DID YOU KNOW?

A standard American light bulb uses 120 volts of electricity. That means an electric eel could power 5 light bulbs!

Speech Bubble (black caiman): Over 8 billion humans live on Earth. Personally, I think they all look delicious.

SCIENCE SPOT

Most thunderstorm clouds hold more than 4 billion cups (1 billion liters) of water. Two of these clouds could provide every person on Earth with one cup of water!

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14 – 15

When the rain stopped, Pebbles crawled out from under his leaf and fanned his wings. A tree frog leaped onto a nearby branch.

“Hello, Mr. Frog!” Pebbles said. “What’s the biggest number you know?”

The frog looked around and croaked, “3 TRILLION. That’s how many trees are growing on Earth.”

FUN FACT!

The tree frog can jump 20 times the length of its body. That’s like you leaping across a school gym in one hop.

NUMBER NOTE

1 trillion has 12 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000

DID YOU KNOW?

Trees live longer than anything else on Earth. The oldest living tree is a bristlecone pine in California. It’s more than 4,800 years old!

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16 – 17

Pebbles marveled at the rainforest. “Wow. Trillions of trees? That’s more than I can even imagine! Thank you, Mr. Frog.”

DID YOU KNOW?

While deserts get less than 10 inches (25 centimeters) of rainfall each year, tropical rainforests get up to 400 inches (1,000 centimeters). That’s enough rain to cover one giraffe standing on top of another!

Speech Bubble (macaw): About half a trillion birds live on Earth. Of course, I’m the most handsome of them all!

Speech Bubble (fish in a river): Trillions of fish swim in the ocean. Thankfully, my river isn’t that crowded.

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18 – 19

Pebbles fluttered to the forest floor, where an army of ants marched by.

“Hello, little ants! What’s the biggest number you know?” Pebbles asked.

Without stopping their work, the ants shouted,

“20 QUADRILLION! That’s how many ants live on Earth.”

“Quick, run!” one of them cried.

All at once, the ants scuttled off.

DID YOU KNOW?

Most grown-ups haven't learned numbers as large as 1 quadrillion. Try asking an adult what a number with 15 zeros is called!

NUMBER NOTE:

1 quadrillion has 15 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000

FUN FACT!
Some ants can lift 50 times their body weight. That's like you lifting a car!

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20 – 21

Suddenly, the ground started shaking. “EARTHQUAKE!” a macaw screeched, flapping its wings wildly. Pebbles zipped off as fast as he could.

DID YOU KNOW?

Ants can tell when an earthquake is coming. Scientists think they sense the ground vibrating through their feet.

SCIENCE SPOT

Earthquakes happen more often than you’d think. In an average year, there are more than 20,000 earthquakes around the world, but most are small and not dangerous.

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22 – 23

Later that afternoon, Pebbles arrived at a beach. A crab scurried along the shore.

“Hello, Ms. Crab!” Pebbles said. “What’s the biggest number you know?”

The crab stopped and clicked her pincers. “7 QUINTILLION. That’s how many grains of sand fill all the deserts and beaches on Earth.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The largest crab is 12 feet (4 meters) long–as long as a car. But don’t try driving it!

Speech Bubble (seagull): How many insects live on Earth?

Speech Bubble (bee): 10 quintillion. That means a billion critters could ‘bug’ each human!

NUMBER NOTE

1 quintillion has 18 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000

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24 – 25

Pebbles started to thank the crab when a gust of wind sent him tumbling out to sea. “Not agaaaain!” he wailed.

SCIENCE SPOT:

Wind moving 74 miles (119 kilometers) per hour or faster is called a hurricane, typhoon, or cyclone—the name depends on where you live.

FUN FACT!

The world’s tallest sandcastle measured 69 feet (21 meters). Builders used more than 10 million pounds (5 million kilograms) of sand!

DID YOU KNOW?

The air that surrounds Earth weighs about 11 quintillion pounds (5.5 quintillion kilograms). Who knew something invisible could weigh so much?

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26 – 27

SPLASH! A dolphin sprang from the waves.

“Hello, Mr. Dolphin!” Pebbles said. “What’s the biggest number you know?”

"6 SEXTILLION!" the dolphin squeaked. “That’s how many cups of water fill the world’s oceans.”

NUMBER NOTE

1 sextillion has 21 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Speech bubble (bird): These 24 fish can line up in over a sextillion different combinations!

Speech bubble (Another dolphin): Some dolphins can dive 1,000 feet (300 meters) underwater!

SCIENCE SPOT

Dolphins are clever animals. They use their own language of clicks, whistles, and squeals to communicate underwater.

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28 – 29

Just then, an eagle dove down and scooped up Pebbles.

“Aaah, don’t eat me!” Pebbles cried. The eagle laughed. “I’m trying to save you! A tsunami is coming.” A massive wave rose up, barely missing them.

DID YOU KNOW?

Tsunami waves are often caused by earthquakes. They can rise over 100 feet (30 meters) high, which is as tall as a ten-story building!

FUN FACT!

Bald eagles can dive at 100 miles (160 kilometers) per hour, as fast as a speeding car.

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30 – 31

“Ms. Eagle, you just saved my life,” Pebbles said. "Thanks a sextillion! That’s the biggest number I know. I wonder, what’s the biggest number you know?”

“1 SEPTILLION. That’s how many stars are in the sky.”

Together, they gazed at the dazzling display. “A septillion stars?” Pebbles said. “The most I’ve ever counted is a hundred!”

NUMBER NOTE:

1 septillion has 24 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

DID YOU KNOW?

The sun is a star! Other stars appear smaller than our sun only because they’re farther away.

SCIENCE SPOT

Earth weighs 13 septillion pounds (6 septillion kilograms). That’s heavier than a quadrillion skyscrapers!

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32 – 33

Pebbles and the eagle flew all night.

At sunrise, they landed on a snowy mountain.

While the eagle rested, Pebbles spied a frolicking dog.

“Hello, Mr. Dog! Tell me, what’s the biggest number you know?”

“3 OCTILLION!” the dog barked, wagging his tail. “That’s how many atoms make up my body!”

SCIENCE SPOT

Malamute dogs live in freezing climates. Their thick fur coat keeps them warm and dry. Some adult malamutes can withstand temperatures as low as -76 degrees Fahrenheit (-60 degrees Celsius). Brrr!

Speech bubble (hiker): Roughly 7 octillion atoms make up my body.

NUMBER NOTE:

1 octillion has 27 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

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34 – 35

“So, dogs are made of atoms?” asked Pebbles.

“Not just dogs—EVERYTHING is made of atoms,” the dog replied. “Butterflies, clouds, even this mountain!”

Suddenly, the mountain rumbled.

“Oh no!” the dog howled.

Mounds of snow hurtled toward Pebbles and his new friend.

“It’s an AVALANCHE! Quick, hold on to my fur!”

They charged down the slope and burst into a laboratory.

DID YOU KNOW?

Avalanches are often caused by skiers, snowmobilers, and even animals disturbing the snow.

SCIENCE SPOT

A large avalanche can weigh up to 2 billion pounds (1 billion kilograms)!

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36 – 37

“Hey, boy! You're safe,” the scientist said to the dog. “And you brought a friend!”

“Hello, Ms. Scientist!” Pebbles said. “You must be wise. Tell me, what’s the biggest number you know?”

The scientist didn’t speak butterfly, so she continued working. “Hey, David!” she said to her lab partner.

“Did you know that 5 NONILLION bacteria live on Earth?”

“Yes!” David said. “And did you know we need even bigger numbers to count things in space?”

“Oooh, space!” Pebbles said. “I bet that’s where I’ll find the biggest number!”

SCIENCE SPOT

Bacteria live all around us, even in our bodies. Good bacteria help us break down the foods we eat, while bad bacteria can make us sick.

NUMBER NOTE:

1 nonillion has 30 zeros. It looks like this: 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

FUN FACT

Space has space for some huge numbers. More than 1,000 Earths could fit inside the planet Jupiter. Nearly 1,000 Jupiters could fit inside the sun. And billions of suns could fit inside some of the galaxy’s largest stars!

Speech Bubble (rat): The sun weighs more than 4 nonillion pounds (2 nonillion kilograms). That makes Earth seem light!

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38 – 39

Pebbles flew to a nearby observatory, where he saw another butterfly.

“Hello!” Pebbles said. “What brings you here?”

“I was looking for the very biggest number,” the butterfly replied.

“No way! Me too!” Pebbles said. “Did you find it?”

“Well, I found out about INFINITY!" she said.

“Infinity? Is that the biggest number?”

“No. Infinity means that numbers go on and on forever. You just keep adding zeros!”

“You mean there is no biggest number?”

The butterfly flapped her wings. “That’s right!”

“Wow, Ms. Butterfly. I can't believe it! I could have searched forever!”

NUMBER NOTE:

Infinity is not a number. It is the idea that something will never end. The symbol that represents infinity looks like this: ∞

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40 – 41

“Look!” Pebbles said. A burst of meteors flashed across the night sky. The butterflies chanted in unison: “One, two, three . . . infinity!”

FUN FACT

There are numbers so large that you can’t even count the zeros! A googol has 100 zeros, and a googolplex has a googol zeros. But even that is nowhere near infinity!

DID YOU KNOW?

Numbers like “zillion,” “gajillion,” and “katrillion” aren’t real numbers—they are made up! That’s why they don’t appear in this book.

SCIENCE SPOT

In 2009, butterflies flew in space as part of a science experiment. They were monarchs and painted ladies—just like Pebbles and Ms. Butterfly!

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42 – 43

DIG DEEPER: WORDS

Speech bubble (Pebbles): Check out all these great words I learned on my journey!

atom: the tiny building block that makes up everything around us

Ant: Atoms are a LOT smaller than we are!

avalanche: large amounts of snow and ice (or dirt and rocks) that suddenly slide down a mountain

Mr. Dog: Whoops! Did I start that?

Celsius and Fahrenheit: units to measure temperature

Mr. Camel: Celsius and Fahrenheit? I measure temperature in hot and hotter!

earthquake: a sudden, violent shaking of the ground resulting from volcanic action or movements within the earth’s crust

Ms. Crab: It’s easier to stay standing during an earthquake when you have 10 legs!

hurricane: a large and powerful storm with strong winds

Ms. Eagle: I don’t like hurricanes. They really ruffle my feathers!

laboratory: a place where scientists do experiments and research

Ms. Scientist: What’s a butterfly doing up here in the cold? Let me research that!

nectar: a sweet liquid produced by plants

Pebbles: Nectar is my favorite drink! It really hits the sweet spot.

observatory: a building with a gigantic telescope that lets you see into space

Ms. Butterfly: The observatory helps me keep an eye on the sky.

predator: an animal that eats other animals to live

Mr. Frog: Frogs eat insects. I’d never eat Pebbles, though. He’s my friend!

tsunami: massive waves caused by underwater earthquakes

Mr. Dolphin: Tsunamis aren’t so bad if you’re swimming deep in the ocean. But when they hit the shore, look out!

volt: a unit to measure electricity

Ms. Eel: People are shocked by how many volts I can produce!

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44 – 45

DIG DEEPER: NUMBERS

1 thousand

A thumbprint of wet sand contains around 1 thousand grains.

1 million

A tennis ball made out of sand would contain around 1 million grains.

1 billion

A large sandcastle contains around 1 billion grains.

1 trillion

A large classroom filled with sand would contain around 1 trillion grains.

1 quadrillion

15 floors of the Empire State Building filled with sand would contain around 1 quadrillion grains.

1 quintillion

125 Empire State Buildings made of sand would contain around 1 quintillion grains.

1 sextillion

The United States covered with a layer of sand as high as the giant letters of the HOLLYWOOD sign would contain around 1 septillion grains.

1 septillion

China covered with a layer of sand nearly twice as high as the Great Wall would contain around 1 septillion grains.

1 octillion

Earth’s land covered with a layer of sand as high as the world’s tallest building would contain around 1 octillion grains.

1 nonillion

Earth’s core filled with sand would contain around 1 nonillion grains.

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46

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joey Benun has always thought BIG. His fascination with numbers began when he was five years old—the bigger, the better. Years later, a fortuitous conversation with his niece and nephews inspired him to write a book about BIG numbers for little kids. Thus, Pebbles and the Biggest Number was born! Years before Pebbles took flight, nine-year-old Joey wrote his first comic book series about a disgruntled ketchup packet who resents being discarded and turns into The Ketchup Monster.

Today, Joey works and lives in Brooklyn, New York, as an Amazon account manager for his family-owned apparel business, The Bentex Group. During his free time, he enjoys engaging in religious studies, listening to TED Talks, and playing tennis.

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Growing up, Laura Watson loved to draw, paint, and craft. This led her to study art and illustration at York University and Sheridan College, respectively. Today, Laura creates lighthearted and whimsical illustrations for children’s books, magazines, and various other platforms. Known for her work with bright, textured swatches of color, she uses a digitally compiled method that looks fresh and hand-painted. Laura lives and works in Toronto, Canada, with her husband, teenage daughter, and a big orange dog named Red.

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47

DEDICATION

I dedicate this book to my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Ziona Katzman. She always encouraged us to write, whether it was letters to the city council, companies we admired, or our fellow classmates. But my favorite project was writing my first picture book. That book was about another curious character, Curious George. Fifteen years later, the excitement I felt then hasn’t faded. Thanks for inspiring me to become an author. I hope this book inspires every reader to think BIG and realize BIG things happen when you put your mind to it.