As "Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't" makes clear, modern people all have a solid idea of what "nothing" means, but have we ever considered what impact nothing as a number has? Like how do you count nothing? How do you display you have nothing? My son always says, you can always show what you do have, but it's impossible to prove what you don't have.

"Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't" is a wonderful trip through history to discover how we came to conceptualize and represent the idea of nothing mathematically. I for one had never really given it any consideration before, so this was an eye-opening and thoroughly educating view into the origins of "zero", as well as other mathematical concepts and methods.

I love it when a book takes something you took for granted and turns it into an intriguing lesson that will stick with you. It's even better when it's a children's book that simplifies the concept so "even a second grader" can get it, and adds illustrations to drive the points home. I especially enjoyed seeing a not yet accepted Zero sulking in a corner or being chased away by a dog, knowing the poor guy would get welcomed with open arms by the 13th century as one of the ten symbols of the now essential Hindu-Arabic number system.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book. The opinions written are completely honest and my own.

I enjoyed learning about the number 0 with Sarah Albee. The story is fun and manages to keep my interest from begining to end. The time lines at end was a nice touch.

Book Review: Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I just finished reading Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't by Sarah Albee, and I couldn't wait to share my thoughts! This book is an absolute gem, and trust me, it's a must-read for both math enthusiasts and those who might shy away from numbers.

At its core, this book takes you on an engaging journey through the history of zero—a concept that we often take for granted in our modern world. Albee dives deep into what life was like before zero was part of our mathematical vocabulary. It’s hard to believe that there was a time when mathematicians had to grapple with calculations without this essential number! The book explores the ups and downs of zero's existence, highlighting how it was created, almost lost, and then rediscovered, all while touching on the cultural influences that shaped its journey.

First off, can we talk about how eye-catching the cover is? It immediately drew me in with its playful design! Albee has a knack for making complex topics accessible, and this book is no exception. It succinctly explains the origins of zero, when it emerged, and the reasons behind its invention. The way she blends math, history, and cultural context makes this book not only informative but incredibly engaging.

The text is clear and fun—which is no small feat when discussing something as intricate as mathematics. I love how Albee manages to cater to both math lovers and those who might have a more complicated relationship with numbers. The illustrations by Chris Hsu are fantastic too! They add an extra layer of enjoyment and provide additional details that complement the narrative beautifully.

Moreover, the back matter is a treasure trove of information. It features a timeline of zero's history along with notes about the artistic choices made throughout the book. This added content is a wonderful resource for anyone curious to learn more.

In summary, Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't is not just a book; it's an enlightening experience that reveals the fascinating story of a number that has profoundly shaped our world. Whether you're young or just young at heart, I wholeheartedly recommend this delightful read. You’ll walk away with a newfound appreciation for zero and its important place in our lives!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

From rudimentary placeholder to mathematical cornerstone, "Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn't" chronicles the epic journey of zero, tracing its evolution from ancient civilizations to its eventual embrace in Europe.

While I had heard about the contributions of Indian mathematicians like Brahmagupta to this discovery, this book illuminated several previously unknown aspects. For example, the Mayans had a shell-shaped symbol for zero, but it wasn't used extensively in complex calculations, only in calendars. It's sad that this progress was lost due to the Spanish invasions. The contrast was striking: Europe received the significant advances in mathematics, trigonometry, and algebra from Eastern scholars through interactions on the Silk Route, yet met these discoveries with deep suspicion. The book highlights the problems that arise when people base the trustworthiness of knowledge on similarities in religion and habits. However, the dissemination of information accelerated with the invention of the printing press. Quite a connection to make between the printing press and the discovery of zero, isn't it? The illustrations are engaging, simple yet retaining minute cultural details such as the clothing and habits of the people. These illustrations greatly enhanced the book's engagement and comprehension.

For me, this book makes a great addition to any library—personal or institutional—because books like these can hook young readers on the wonderful world of STEAM!

This will find a place in my nonfiction collection. The concept of zero is a simple idea that does need a bit of explanation for children. This fun book, with friendly illustrations does a clear job with that explanation. Including the history of the "discovery" and use of zero through many cultures around the world is a wonderful idea.

My kids (7 and 11) and I really enjoyed this book! It’s crazy to think that there was a time when zero didn’t exist, but this book takes you through the history of life before zero, as well as how zero came to be. It’s presented in a way that’s easy to understand for younger kids, but is a great read for all ages including adults that don’t already know Zero’s journey into existence.

Brilliant! It's always curious to me that there are people so clever they can come up with ideas as important as this for the first time. I can't imagine a world without zero, but as history shows, it's not intuitive and was even rejected.
The illustrations are fun and bright and the history is so interesting. This is a fantastic book for kids asking questions about the world, so they can know that knowledge is a process sometimes.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

From a number that never existed to a number that how has so much value based on where it is placed, the number zero has been up and down the ladder of recognition.

In this book, the author Sarah Albee combs through history to bring the story of zero, our hero of the book through simple and easy language, written engagingly with just the right sense of humour to capture the attention of the reader.

Albee begins the journey of zero (beautiful illustrated by Chris Hsu) as a gaping hole in the Babylonian place value system, to its introduction in the number system, how it was represented by a dot in the Sanskrit language, and finally in the Arabic numeral system where it got the shape we recognise zero in its symbolic form. I was pleased to notice that Albee also introduced other cultures/countries/civilisations who had worked out the placement and inclusion and invention of zero. And, it was truly shocking to me to read that the inclusion and acceptance of zero was banned by the European Christian leaders who termed it as the Devil.

Albee continues to talk about how thanks to invention of zero as a number, it has managed to give rise to new fields in science and mathematics — calculus, physics, quantum theory, computer science ,and much more. STEM would not exists as a pillar of learning if not for zero.

The illustrations accompanying the history of zero are colourful and playful.. The little notes page at the end points to the certain Easter eggs placed through out the book and offer cheeky insights into the annals of history, which I think is a delightful addition.

For children between the reading ages of 7-10 this book is an excellent gift.

It's a nonnumber that most of us just take for granted. But through many years and civilizations the idea of a placeholder for the concept of nothing was developed and sometimes feared. From everyday matters to the development of algebra the concept of zero eventually became more accepted. Because of the PRINTING PRESS!
The illustrations by Chris Hsu are detailed, and delightfully colorful.
Well suited for reading WITH someone any age from 6 and up, including ESL, and great for gifting to everyone, but especially to a school or your local public library!
I requested and received a temporary uncorrected eGalley on Adobe Digital Editions from Charlesbridge via NetGalley. Avail Mar 11, 2025
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I received a copy of this eBook from netGalley for a honest review.

I never knew zero had such a journey to acceptance and use in the world. A great, fun, informative picture book about how there used to be no zero and how it came to life in around the world.

Thank you to Netgalley for the free arc!

This is a very informative book about how the concept of zero developed. It gives interesting information about how different parts of the world and different cultures conceptualized zero throughout history. The illustrations are great! This book would be great for a classroom read aloud. It is also a great book to spring off of for enrichment projects to further explore the concept of zero is different cultures, throughout history, and in modern day language!

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This short, easily-readable book explains the history of the numeral zero, how and when it came to be, and why it was invented. It's a combination mathematics book, history book, and describes some of the cultures involved. This is the only book concerning zero - and its histories (and there are several histories) that is easily readable by a common person, including a middle-schooler with little knowledge of mathematics and none in advanced mathematics. The history and geography questions that come up are concisely explained.

I chose this book precisely because I did a term paper on zero as well as its history. I am amazed at how much relevant information is covered as simply as it is. Anyone who has attempted arithmetic using Roman Numerals can appreciate the importance of zero and the place value system.

Illustrations are intriguing, and show approximately what was to make this book more visually appealing. That includes illustrating lesser-known facts.

Beautifully illustrated and cleverly told, this story explains how the concept of zero came to be in many cultures. The relationship between place value and the need for zero is discussed. A timeline, definitions, and zero in different languages is also included.

This book was very helpful I understanding what the number zero meant to the various cultures in civilizations in our world. It's mainly Eurocentric but still very educational.

Who knew that the history of Zero could be so interesting? As a non-math person, I wasn't so sure about this book, but I raced right through it! Enjoyed the illustrations, the historical context, and the global reach of this one. It was so cool to learn how different cultures dealt with numbers, zero, counting, and why these were all so necessary. Thanks to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for the eARC!

A fascinating look at numbers and the history of math, especially in relation to history and how ancient civilizations calculated goods and services, measured time, and looked at adding and subtracting. This will appeal to math fans and historians, and anyone else who is curious about how zero came to be. I highly recommend this book for schools and libraries.

This was a fun, historical description of how zero came about. I liked that it also touched on the number systems used by different peoples. Glossary with a few words that many get confused. ARC from NetGalley

A fascinating history of the number zero, exploring how different cultures and groups developed various representations over time. This book blends history with math, showing how zero is the result of centuries of cultural evolution and mathematical discovery. This is an excellent addition to public and school libraries, and a great resource to support for math classes.

The page layout in the ARC was a little wonky, but the story is informative and charming. Seems like a great non-fiction addition to any classroom.

This is an eye-opening and detailed history of the emergence and history of zero. Everything from the need and development to the role of specific mathematicians and cultural acceptance (or suspicion) are covered. Engaging illustrations accompany this informative and well-researched book. The author includes a time line and a list of math-related books for younger readers.

Thanks to Charlesbridge, Sarah Albee and NetGalley for this ARC.