There Was a Black Hole That Swallowed the Universe

Ferrie’s There was a Black Hole That Swallowed the Universe can be sung to the tune of “I Know An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”. In Ferrie’s picture book, the main character with the voracious appetite is a black hole, and his menu includes all things that can be found in the universe. As he gulps down the items, he’s left with a little bit of “bodily” damage and a fuller stomach. After eating the galaxy that gives him cavities, he moves on to progressively smaller items, such as planets, cells, molecules, and atoms. The book ends when he swallows a quark and he’s left in the dark.

Readers can shine a flashlight on the pages of the book and reread the story backwards so they can see the universe being recreated. The big, wide-open eyes and worried facial expressions on the characters add tension and drama to the plot while the rounded teeth and rosy cheeks eliminate any scariness of being swallowed. Views from inside the black hole’s stomach show how planets and stars and galaxies interact as well as the relative sizes of smaller items such as cells and molecules. Children will enjoy the repetitive rhymes and will join in with the ending on every page, “Oh well, it couldn’t get worse.” This is a fun way to teach children a little nonfiction in a sing-song humorous story.