Math Picture Books: Teaching the Number Zero through Stories
Introduction
Since the school year hasn’t started, and my recent Bible Study/Theological posts focused on Genesis 1, I thought it might be fun to have my next few posts focusing on number 0. The number that comes before the beginning (at least in counting numbers).
Books in Math Class
I love cross-curricular connections! One of my favorite things to do in a math classroom is to integrate picture books. Yet when lesson planning, relevant picture books are so hard to find—especially at the middle grades and above, so I usually just end up just reading Sir Cumference and the First Round Table by Cindy Neuschwander for Pi Day each year. So, to help you math teachers out, I’m going to do some book reviews for you. That way you don’t have to go hunting.
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Reviews
Zero Zebras: A Counting Book About What’s Not There by Bruce Goldstone
I really liked this book! Zero Zebras was super fun to read to my toddler. The book starts out counting animals beginning with 1 wallaby and then counts up all the way to 12 turtles wallowing in the mud. However, each animal is also compared to the 0 zebras that are also present in the picture. Then the book ends with an application: the reader has to count all sorts of 0 objects present (or not present) on the page in addition to making up their own 0 things to count.
Zero Zebras really drives home that number 0 is a lack or absence of something, so it can’t be counted. I recommend this book for toddler and preschoolers who are just learning what the number 0 is. There is also a nice connection for adults at the end of the book that compares 0 to infinity which are both connected ideas mathematically. It also has uses an example of taking out a box and having students count the 0 things that are in it. I feel a lesson plan brewing in my mind. 😄
Finally the author, Bruce Goldstone, ends with a great thought: “Counting numbers are great for things you can see, feel or smell or taste or hear, but zero can name things you can think about. The possibilities go on forever. That’s how zero can lead you into infinity. The only limit is your imagination.” What a great discussion starter or closure!
Target Audience: Preschool/Kindergarten
Buy Zero Zebras! Note: I’m NO longer participating in Amazon’s affiliate link program, but I’m leaving the links for your convenience.
Zero is the Leaves on the Tree by Betsy Franco
Zero is the Leaves on the Tree is similar to Zero Zebras but not quite as fun. Each page has a situation of 0 objects: 0 balls in the bin at recess time; 0 leaves on the trees in winter; 0 ducks on the pond in winter etc. The book also follows the theme of the seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall), so it could be a nice tie in if you are doing a thematic unit on seasons.
Target Audience: Preschool/Kindergarten
Buy Zero is the Leaves on the Tree!
A Place for Zero: A Math Adventure by Angeline Sparangna LoPresti
As a middle school math teacher I really like A Place for Zero! It’s also very punny. Zero couldn’t find his place in country of Addemup because he has nothing to add. Therefore, he seeks help from Count Infinity, King Multiplus, and Queen Addeleine.
One of the things I liked about the book is that it discusses the Additive Identity and the Multiplicative Property of Zero in a playful way. It also discusses the purpose of adding zero as a place holder in 10, 20, 30, 100 etc.
Target Audience: Middle School
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Zero the Hero by Joan Holub
With the superhero theme, Zero the Hero is also a good book for middle school and elementary students. Kids will find the dialogue bubbles funny! the main character, Zero, want to be a hero, but he needs to find a way to prove it. Eventually Zero and the other numbers realized how important Zero is as he goes to war with the Roman Numerals and saves the day.
The book touches on the idea of counting numbers which would be good for Grade 8’s discussion of the Real Number System. The book discusses several mathematical ideas:
- 0 as a place holder;
- the Additive Identity Property and the Multiplication Property of Zero. (However, I wish they would have named the properties!); and
- the idea that you can’t divide by Zero.
This can also be connected to Ohio’s Social Emotional Learning Standards about Self-Awareness as Zero learns about his value:
- Self Awareness: A4: Demonstrate a sense of personal responsibility, confidence and advocacy
- Grades 3-5: A4.2.b Demonstrate confidence in the ability to complete a range of tasks and address challenges while expressing positive attitudes towards self.
- Middle Grades: A4.2.c Recognize the importance of confidently handling tasks and challenges, while reframing negative thoughts and engaging in positive self-talk.
Target Audience: Elementary/Middle School
Buy A Place for Zero: A Math Adventure!
Octopuses Have Zero Bones by Anne Richardson
I have to admit that I’m not a big fan of Octopuses Have Zero Bones. I just can’t figure out how to use it in a math classroom. It is a counting book, but the concepts are just too high level for early counters. The science concepts are definitely at the middle school level or above. The book attempts to explain 0 as a place holder for multiples of 10, but I feel it jumps from concept to concept too quickly. It goes from 10 to 200 to 3,000 to 40,000 without really talking about multiplication behind the place value or why you add that many zeroes to each number. The only way I think that it could really be useful in a math classroom is as an introduction to scientific notation because it talks about really big and really small numbers. It may also be a good book for a science classroom; I can’t say for sure. Overall, I don’t recommend this book. But maybe one of my readers can find a better way to use it?
Target Audience: Middle School/High School/Science?
Buy Octopuses Have Zero Bones !
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
Zero is a book about math that also allows for conversation around the social and emotional learning standards or the Christian concept of Imago Dei (Image of God). Zero is sad that she doesn’t have value and feels empty inside. She spends the early pages of the book trying to transform herself into other numbers. Eventually Zero learns that she has value too as everyone counts and everyone has value!
This book could be a good conversation starter when students discuss the difference between whole numbers and counting numbers in Grade 8 Math, but I think I would recommend using this at the end of the unit on place value for first graders. For first graders, it would be a better summation book as students need to understand what the zeros in the numbers stand for before they get the jokes in the book.
Target Audience: Elementary/Middle School
Buy Zero!
Disclosure: I only recommend products/books that I think would be helpful to you in your journey as an educator. All opinions expressed here are my own. I am NO longer participating in Amazon’s affiliate links (8/28/25). Read my full privacy policy here.
Conclusion
Anytime you can add something different to a math class, it improves student engagement. Plus, it’s also a great way to teach or reinforce the English Language Arts standards.
Zero
Let’s hear your thoughts about zero in the chat. It’s a fun number to discuss and teach!
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