Zero

Reach for this book when your child expresses feelings of being small, unimportant, or 'empty' compared to their peers. It is a vital resource for children who struggle with self-worth or who feel like they do not have a specific 'talent' to contribute to a group. Through the clever personification of numbers, the story addresses the heavy weight of comparison and the longing to be something other than who we are. Zero is a circular character who watches the other numbers (One through Nine) with envy, wishing she had a 'count' like them. The book follows her journey from trying to stretch and shape herself into others to discovering that her unique shape allows her to bring infinite value when she stands alongside her friends. It is a gentle, sophisticated metaphor for finding one's place in the world, suitable for preschoolers through early elementary students who are navigating the social complexities of the classroom.