Zero the Hero

November 21, 2011
This story about the concept of zero recalls both Lichtenheld’s recent E-mergency and Kathryn Otoshi’s Zero (2010). Like the former, it features walking, talking written characters (digits, in this case, rather than letters), accompanied by Lichtenheld’s snappy, cartoon-style art. And like the latter, it features a Zero who’s scorned by his fellow numbers and who worries that he “doesn’t count.” But Holub’s (Wagons Ho!) Zero, who dresses in a superhero cape, has an inner “belief in his wonderfulness” and awaits a chance to prove it. At this point, several involved exchanges about Zero’s arithmetic functions establish that Zero extinguishes anything he’s multiplied by (Zero times a rock equals Zero), but the discussions weigh the story down and don’t seem likely to enlighten math-o-phobes. Past the blackboard digressions, things pick up as Zero rescues the other numbers from an attack by toga-clad Roman numerals, scaring them off with his destructive multiplicative powers (“Run IV your life!” one yells). Despite the energetic
artwork and some clever ideas, though, Zero’s story doesn’t quite add up. Ages 6–10. Agent: Eden Street Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Amy Rennert Agency.

June 1, 2013

Gr 1-3-Zero is a number who is starting to feel utterly worthless. His friends, like One and Seven, have fun playing counting games. Zero can't join in because he's not a counting number. His friends are frightened by him when it comes to multiplication because he will make them disappear. Zero leaves when his confidence reaches an all-time low. His friends realize that they need him when they can't finish math problems, but before they can tell him, they are captured by the Roman numerals. Zero becomes the hero he believed himself to be when he successfully makes the Roman numerals disappear and saves his friends. L. J. Ganser voices each number and Roman numeral in a uniquely appropriate manner, giving an added oomph to Holub's story (Holt, 2012) of mathematical heroism and witty puns.-Kelly Roth, Prospect Park School, PA

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