{"id":8766756520173,"title":"Zero!","handle":"zero","description":"\u003ch1\u003eZero!\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Number That Almost Wasn't\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eComing March 11, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eSarah Albee\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chris-hsu\"\u003eChris Hsu\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHow did math work before zero existed?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eZero has had quite a journey. Symbols for \"nothing\" and supporting concepts like place value were created, abandoned, and recreated over thousands of years across the globe. Respected children’s author and consummate researcher Sarah Albee lays out the history of zero alongside the complications that initially hampered its development, including Western imperialism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA riveting nonfiction kids book with a playful feel, \u003cem\u003eZero!\u003c\/em\u003e unravels a complicated history in thrilling detail. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-place-for-zero\"\u003eA Place for Zero\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/all-about-nothing\"\u003eAll About Nothing\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/zero-spread.jpg?v=1721057823\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/zero-cover.jpg?v=1721057824\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/zero-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1721057825\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Albee, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSarah Albee is the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of more than 100 books for kids, including \u003cem\u003eTroublemakers in Trousers\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries.\u003c\/em\u003e Prior to being a full-time writer, Sarah worked at Children’s Television Workshop (producers of Sesame Street) for nine years. She played basketball in college, and then a year of semiprofessional women’s basketball in Cairo, Egypt. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sarah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Hsu, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChris Hsu is a classically-trained and versatile artist who has worked in greeting-card illustration, advertising, and animation, including as a background artist on the animated FX spy comedy \u003cem\u003eArcher.\u003c\/em\u003e He is the illustrator of\u003cem\u003e I Am Someone Else, The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eMadame Speaker. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chris-hsu\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Chris.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEveryone understands what it means to have nothing, but readers may be surprised to discover that zero as a mathematical concept is fairly recent. Albee charts the development of this revolutionary concept from the Babylonian introduction of placeholders to zero’s influence on calculus and modern fields of knowledge from physics to computer science. An important aspect of the narrative is the fundamental contributions of nonwestern cultures such as the Mayan and Arabic cultures. Abee also shares roadblocks to the zero’s acceptance, such as European Christian leaders who banished it, arguing that something that represented nothing must be “the work of the devil.” Hsu’s playful illustrations feature a cartoon personification of zero who not only observes its development, but sometimes takes an active role, such as standing next to the great Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizimi as he introduces the concept to fellow Persians. Back matter includes information about other words for zero, number systems, and the terminology; a brief bibliography; detailed timeline; and some fun notes on the illustrations. This is an excellent addition to books on math history and concepts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-432-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7–10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 40\u003cbr\u003e10 x 8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: March 11, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-09-27T11:39:39-04:00","created_at":"2024-07-18T13:21:19-04:00","vendor":"Charlesbridge","type":"Children's Book","tags":["Browse by Age_Ages 6-10","Browse by Fiction\/Nonfiction_Nonfiction","Browse by Format_Picture Book","Browse by Language_English","Browse by Subject_History \u0026 Biography","Browse by Subject_Math \u0026 Counting"],"price":1799,"price_min":1799,"price_max":1799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":46713344393453,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"44324","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Zero!","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":1799,"weight":567,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_quantity":10,"inventory_management":"shopify","inventory_policy":"continue","barcode":"9781623544324","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/zero-cover.jpg?v=1721057824"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/zero-cover.jpg?v=1721057824","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":33758532206829,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.242,"height":483,"width":600,"src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/zero-cover.jpg?v=1721057824"},"aspect_ratio":1.242,"height":483,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.charlesbridge.com\/cdn\/shop\/files\/zero-cover.jpg?v=1721057824","width":600}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003ch1\u003eZero!\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Number That Almost Wasn't\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch6\u003eComing March 11, 2025. Pre-order today!\u003c\/h6\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR\/ILLUSTRATOR INFO BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eSarah Albee\u003c\/a\u003e \/ Illustrated by: \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chris-hsu\"\u003eChris Hsu\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER HEADING BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cb data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHow did math work before zero existed?\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - ENTER DESCRIPTION BELOW - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eZero has had quite a journey. Symbols for \"nothing\" and supporting concepts like place value were created, abandoned, and recreated over thousands of years across the globe. Respected children’s author and consummate researcher Sarah Albee lays out the history of zero alongside the complications that initially hampered its development, including Western imperialism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA riveting nonfiction kids book with a playful feel, \u003cem\u003eZero!\u003c\/em\u003e unravels a complicated history in thrilling detail. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER RECOMMENDATIONS BELOW - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"recommended-books\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you like this book, you’ll enjoy these: \u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-place-for-zero\"\u003eA Place for Zero\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/products\/all-about-nothing\"\u003eAll About Nothing\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - START OF TABS - - - - - - - -- - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eLook Inside\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/zero-spread.jpg?v=1721057823\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" class=\"cvr-border-gray\"\u003e\u003c!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page --\u003e \u003cscript src=\"\/\/assets.pinterest.com\/js\/pinit.js\" data-pin-hover=\"true\" data-pin-height=\"32\" data-pin-shape=\"round\" defer async=\"\" type=\"text\/javascript\"\u003e\u003c\/script\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DOWNLOADABLES BELOW - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDownloadables\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"medium-cover\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/zero-cover.jpg?v=1721057824\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"btn-wrapper\"\u003e\u003ca class=\"product-btn\" href=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0750\/0101\/files\/zero-cover-hires.jpg.zip?v=1721057825\"\u003eDownload the Cover\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER AUTHOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor \u0026amp; Illustrator\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Albee, author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSarah Albee is the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of more than 100 books for kids, including \u003cem\u003eTroublemakers in Trousers\u003c\/em\u003e and\u003cem\u003e Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries.\u003c\/em\u003e Prior to being a full-time writer, Sarah worked at Children’s Television Workshop (producers of Sesame Street) for nine years. She played basketball in college, and then a year of semiprofessional women’s basketball in Cairo, Egypt. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/sarah-albee\"\u003eRead more \u003c\/a\u003eabout Sarah.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - ENTER ILLUSTRATOR BIO BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Hsu, illustrator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChris Hsu is a classically-trained and versatile artist who has worked in greeting-card illustration, advertising, and animation, including as a background artist on the animated FX spy comedy \u003cem\u003eArcher.\u003c\/em\u003e He is the illustrator of\u003cem\u003e I Am Someone Else, The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, \u003c\/em\u003eand \u003cem\u003eMadame Speaker. \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/pages\/chris-hsu\"\u003eRead more\u003c\/a\u003e about Chris.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - ENTER AWARDS \u0026 HONORS BELOW - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAwards \u0026amp; Honors\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - ENTER REVIEWS BELOW - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEditorial Reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eChildren's Literature\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n \u003cp\u003eEveryone understands what it means to have nothing, but readers may be surprised to discover that zero as a mathematical concept is fairly recent. Albee charts the development of this revolutionary concept from the Babylonian introduction of placeholders to zero’s influence on calculus and modern fields of knowledge from physics to computer science. An important aspect of the narrative is the fundamental contributions of nonwestern cultures such as the Mayan and Arabic cultures. Abee also shares roadblocks to the zero’s acceptance, such as European Christian leaders who banished it, arguing that something that represented nothing must be “the work of the devil.” Hsu’s playful illustrations feature a cartoon personification of zero who not only observes its development, but sometimes takes an active role, such as standing next to the great Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizimi as he introduces the concept to fellow Persians. Back matter includes information about other words for zero, number systems, and the terminology; a brief bibliography; detailed timeline; and some fun notes on the illustrations. This is an excellent addition to books on math history and concepts.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\u003c!-- - - - - - - - - - - - ENTER DETAILS BELOW - - - - - - - - - - - --\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eDetails\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHardcover\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eISBN: 978-1-62354-432-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAges: 7–10\u003cbr\u003ePage count: 40\u003cbr\u003e10 x 8\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePublication date: March 11, 2025\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e[\/TABS]\u003c\/p\u003e"}

Zero!

The Number That Almost Wasn't

Coming March 11, 2025. Pre-order today!

By: Sarah Albee / Illustrated by: Chris Hsu

How did math work before zero existed?

Zero has had quite a journey. Symbols for "nothing" and supporting concepts like place value were created, abandoned, and recreated over thousands of years across the globe. Respected children’s author and consummate researcher Sarah Albee lays out the history of zero alongside the complications that initially hampered its development, including Western imperialism.

A riveting nonfiction kids book with a playful feel, Zero! unravels a complicated history in thrilling detail. 

Maximum quantity available reached.

Sarah Albee, author

Sarah Albee is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 100 books for kids, including Troublemakers in Trousers and Accidental Archaeologists: True Stories of Unexpected Discoveries. Prior to being a full-time writer, Sarah worked at Children’s Television Workshop (producers of Sesame Street) for nine years. She played basketball in college, and then a year of semiprofessional women’s basketball in Cairo, Egypt. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Read more about Sarah.


Chris Hsu, illustrator

Chris Hsu is a classically-trained and versatile artist who has worked in greeting-card illustration, advertising, and animation, including as a background artist on the animated FX spy comedy Archer. He is the illustrator of I Am Someone Else, The Boo-Boos That Changed the World, and Madame Speaker. 

Read more about Chris.

  • A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Children's Literature

Everyone understands what it means to have nothing, but readers may be surprised to discover that zero as a mathematical concept is fairly recent. Albee charts the development of this revolutionary concept from the Babylonian introduction of placeholders to zero’s influence on calculus and modern fields of knowledge from physics to computer science. An important aspect of the narrative is the fundamental contributions of nonwestern cultures such as the Mayan and Arabic cultures. Abee also shares roadblocks to the zero’s acceptance, such as European Christian leaders who banished it, arguing that something that represented nothing must be “the work of the devil.” Hsu’s playful illustrations feature a cartoon personification of zero who not only observes its development, but sometimes takes an active role, such as standing next to the great Persian mathematician Al-Khwarizimi as he introduces the concept to fellow Persians. Back matter includes information about other words for zero, number systems, and the terminology; a brief bibliography; detailed timeline; and some fun notes on the illustrations. This is an excellent addition to books on math history and concepts.

Hardcover
ISBN: 978-1-62354-432-4

Ages: 7–10
Page count: 40
10 x 8

Publication date: March 11, 2025