My First Book of Time

Encompassing diverse time concepts as well as providing a guide to telling time, this colorful concept book utilizes puzzles, games, and color photographs to discuss the history of time-telling, seasons, day and night, growth and change, and other topics.

Kindergarten-Grade 3-- It's hard to imagine an introduction to telling and understanding time that's fresher or more inclusive than this one. It's illustrated with photos that feature lots of primary colors against a bright, white background, and they're as attractive as they are effective at delivering information and instruction. Most illustrations include multiethnic children who project upbeat, smart attitudes. This book puts telling time where it belongs: into the context of understanding time. Chapters on the passage of seasons, growing, and measuring time provide background, context, and meaning. A variety of effective visual aids such as timelines, photos documenting the development of a duck from hatching to eight weeks of age, and inviting descriptions of hands-on time-measuring games recognize that different readers respond to different approaches. Chapters dealing with the history of time-measuring and the various types of clocks add interest. A few more complicated concepts are offered as a challenge for kids past the novice stage. Distinct chapters allow readers the luxury of isolating special interests and locating them via the simple table of contents. The book ends with a fold-out clock with sturdy plastic hands that can be manipulated, letting readers wrap up their experience with direct involvement. --Liza Bliss, formerly at Leominster Public Library, MA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

This publisher's now-familiar kinetic presentation has rarely been used to better advantage than in this comprehensive, oversized pictorial study. Beginning with its user-friendly introduction--three vertical columns of kids and timepieces against stark white backgrounds--the book offers 13 sparkling spreads jam-packed with information. Such timely topics as "Days of the week," "The four seasons" and "Digital clocks" are clearly presented, covering the material in exhaustive but never overwhelming detail. Involving questions are sprinkled throughout: on the striking "A world of clocks" spread, for example, the caption beneath a photograph of a floral clock asks, "Where might you see a clock like this?" As always, the pictures' human subjects are an immensely likable bunch: their energy and enthusiasm are practically palpable. The piece de resistance here is a sturdy fold-out clock inside the back cover, complete with movable hands (hours in red, minutes in blue)--youngsters can practice what they've learned. One thing's for sure: a good time will be had by all. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

An oversize book (10''x13'') with attractive cut-out color photos of children and objects, their delicately sketched backgrounds on generous white space, preserving an uncluttered look. A great many concepts are introduced here: days, weeks, seasons, years; different kinds of clocks, including digital, analog, and even a sand clock, and their history; words and symbols used for time's passage. There are lots of clock faces, exercises (mix and match pages: find the clock showing ``twenty- five after six''), a glossary, and a large fold-out clock with sturdy moveable hands. The clear, detailed text is peppered with rhetorical questions, but the didactic tone is not inappropriate to the subject. A thorough and useful presentation that includes a sensible note addressed to adults. (Nonfiction. 4-8) -- Copyright ©1992, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.