The Cat in Numberland

In The Cat in Numberland, a resident cat navigates the chaos of an infinitely accommodating hotel filled with Numbers, Letters, and Fractions.

At Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert’s Hotel Infinity, the resident cat finds himself perplexed by the constant influx of guests. Despite the hotel being fully booked with both Odd and Even Numbers, new arrivals keep coming. The situation escalates when Zero arrives, leading to a significant reshuffling of rooms as he insists on staying, despite Mr. Hilbert's claims that he isn't really a Number. This peculiar event sets the stage for even more unexpected visitors.

As the story unfolds, Letters start showing up, and remarkably, there are still rooms available for everyone, despite no Numbers having left. The hotel seems to defy logic, accommodating an ever-growing list of guests. However, the arrival of the Fractions introduces a new level of complexity and threatens to disrupt the delicate balance of the hotel’s capacity. The resident cat, along with Mr. and Mrs. Hilbert, must find a way to manage the chaos brought on by these new guests.

The Cat in Numberland serves as an engaging introduction to the concept of infinity, inspired by mathematician David Hilbert's famous paradox of the Grand Hotel. With imaginative illustrations by John O’Brien, the book simplifies intricate mathematical concepts, making them accessible and enjoyable for readers of all ages. It is a delightful blend of storytelling and education, encouraging curiosity about numbers and the nature of infinity.