The nonfiction picture book Zero! The Number that Almost Wasn’t by Sarah Albee (illustrated by Chris Hsu; Charlesbridge, 2025) captures the interesting history of the concept of nothing in mathematics. Although it’s a nonfiction book about a real concept (or non-concept as the case was for a long time), it reads smoothly and clearly like a story, for a story it is. The fun illustrations add to the story-like feel with a cartoon zero with arms and legs hides on every page, waiting to become a central character in the book.
Kids have probably never thought about “zero” being a concept at all, and yet it is one that had to be “discovered.” The story begins with the ancients counting on fingers, but quickly expands to various different types of number systems that didn’t catch on. The familiar Roman Numerals system may stand out to kids, as that is likely the only other “number” system they have encountered. Even I learned about different number systems I had not been familiar with.
The book end matter provides linguistic history of the word “zero;” specific definitions of “number,” “numeral,” and “digit;” a man of where different number systems had developed; a bibliograph for adults and young readers; a timeline of the blurry concept of zero; and notes about the historically accurate and mathematical concepts drawn into the art. WHOA! The end matter likewise is not overwhelming as end matter for such a nonfiction picture could potentially become.
In short, Zero! The Number that Almost Wasn’t is anything but diddly-squat. It carefully shows the development of the mathematical concept of zero in a tightly written true history. It would be ideal for those teaching third grade; third grade math covers the higher levels of place value. Although younger grades likewise encounter place value, it is third grades that will most appreciate this story-like nonfiction picture book.
I received a digital review copy of Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t for review consideration.
