Early Book Review: There Was a Black Hole that Swallowed the Universe by Chris Ferrie, Susan Batori

There Was a Black Hole that Swallowed the Universe is a picture book written by Chris Ferrie and illustrated Susan Batori. This book uses the familiar rhythm of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly," follow along as the black hole swallows up the universe and everything that exists in it, from the biggest to the smallest pieces of matter. The silly, vibrant artwork is sure to make stargazers of all ages smile. Included in the book are instructions to create a craft to turn a cell phone camera light into a black light. Use this new invention to reveal the secret, invisible text and artwork that reverses the story from nothing to the scientific creation of everything! It is currently scheduled for release on September 3 2019.

There Was a Black Hole that Swallowed the Universe is a well illustrated story that can give young readers a good idea of the building blocks of the universe. Some of of the word choices struck me as odd, and the fact that we go from planets down to cells did not make sense to me, but I know in a picturebook brevity is an art form its own and choices need to be made. I liked the idea and the artwork very much, and thought that the black light story in reverse is a wonderful touch, even if my digital copy does not allow me to enjoy it. I think this is a fun and enlightening story that will please many young readers and their caregivers.