365: How to Count a Year

K-Gr 3–Paul takes readers through a year of familiar events to show various ways to imagine such a length of time. Are 365 ice cream flavors of the day, 52 Friday night movies, or 12 monthly bulletin board displays easier to visualize? Chung’s digitally rendered illustrations capture the sense of whimsy these suggestions encompass. The Earth circles a sun that is actually the head of a golden lion. That lion beams outside the child’s window each morning but also joins in the fun activities throughout the year. When the text mentions 365 clean pairs of underwear, the lion models a pair, posing like a bodybuilder in front of the washing machine. Monthly cleanings of the fish tank include the child and lion in scuba suits scrubbing the tank as 12 fish watch. The text explains that “8,760 hours might seem like forever” until the next birthday party; the fun accompanying image is a snail in a party hat creeping along with a gift box. Another scene includes the characters apparently playing marbles, but a closer inspection reveals that the marbles are laid out in a diagram of the solar system. Back matter includes an explanation of calendars and facts on topics such as the average number of hours spent in school or how many times teeth are brushed during a year.