Absolute Zero is a 1978 children's novel by Helen Cresswell, the second book in the Bagthorpe Saga.

Uncle Parker has won a trip to the Caribbean in a caption contest.

In typical Bagthorpian style, the rest of the family immediately enter similar competitions in an attempt to better his prize but, much of the time, beating the others to an entry form is a victory in itself.

Uncle Parker claimed her pyromania has passed, but neglected to mention the nature of her current obsession.

As Daisy's activities bring the household to its knees using items such as paint, face powder, water and an invisible friend/entity named Arry Awk, Grandma manages to get herself arrested, Mrs Fosdyke is reduced to serving up dishes such as oxtail trifle, while the children are busy wrapping up unwanted prizes to give each other as Christmas presents.