Zero Is The Leaves On The Tree (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
I adore this book (and, more importantly, my 2+-year-old son does, too!). It has lovely illustrations, running through a cycle of seasons using everyday situations in life and nature to explain the concept of zero. It's a quite complicated idea, this symbol for "none" or "null" or "nothing." This book illustrates it beautifully. The math geek in me loves the idea of a picture book about zero the same way the jazz geek in me loves Chris Raschka's "Charlie Parker Played Be Bop." Sophisticated ideas presented in just the way to grab a young child and absorb him in a new understanding. While basically just a book about the concept of zero, Franco's evocative, poetic word/concept choices and Arihara's gorgeous paintings make this one of my favorite books of the year. The book follows the seasons, beginning with fall, with vignettes both in the classroom at out in the world. The title is one example of zero, referring to the leaves left on the tree in fall: zero. Another, "Zero is...the bikes in the bike rack on the last day of school."
What do You think about Zero Is The Leaves On The Tree (2009)?
Beautiful watercolor illustrations. Simple pattern book for helping to conceptualizer zero.
—Tas
Not a standout among NFPBs this year, but a nicely illustrated, simple concept book.
—mari
Paintings and flowing text illustrate the numerical concept of zero
—niki
