The Numberlys
Sale price
$1697
Picture Book · Ages 3–7 · 2014

The Numberlys

By William Joyce (Author/Illustrator), Christina Ellis (Illustrator)

Five heroes transform a dull world of numbers into a vibrant realm of letters, sparking wonder and color.

5.6/7 Bookroo experts·3.9/5 Goodreads · 1,079 ratings
50 pages
$17.99Save 6%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

In a world ruled by numbers, five daring heroes refuse to accept a life devoid of color and creativity. Armed with tools and imagination, they embark on a quest to create something new. As they transform numbers into letters, a vibrant alphabet emerges, bringing unexpected wonders like pizza and jelly beans. This enchanting tale celebrates the power of creativity to illuminate a world once shrouded in gray. What magic will unfold as letters replace numbers, and how will it change everything they know?

From the publisher

From the team who brought you The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore comes an alphabet tale extraordinaire!

Once upon a time there was no alphabet, only numbers…

Life was…fine. Orderly. Dull as gray paint. Very…numberly. But our five jaunty heroes weren’t willing to accept that this was all there could be. They knew there had to be more.

So they broke out hard hats and welders, hammers and glue guns, and they started knocking some numbers together. Removing a piece here. Adding a piece there. At first, it was awful. But the five kept at it, and soon it was…artful! One letter after another emerged, until there were twenty-six. Twenty-six letters—and they were beautiful. All colorful, shiny, and new. Exactly what our heroes didn’t even know they were missing.

And when the letters entered the world, something truly wondrous began to happen…Pizza! Jelly beans! Color! Books!

Based on the award-winning app, this is William Joyce and Moonbot’s Metropolis-inspired homage to everyone who knows there is more to life than shades of black and gray.

At a glance
Format
Hardcover
Pages
50
Reading age
3–7
Audience
Picture
Lexile
AD590L
Themes & topics
Books about numbersBooks about alphabet (ABCs)Books about colorsBooks about imagination and play
What readers & critics say

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5.6

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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
~3.8
F&P level
~O
Publication
Published
May 27, 2014
Edition
Language
English
Type
Picture Book
Identifiers
ISBN
9781442473430

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