Just a Minute: Why Humans Tell Time (Orca Timeline, 12)

There are so many ways humans think of time every day! There’s lunchtime, snack time, bedtime, and we talk about saving time, killing time, keeping time, buying time and racing against time.

Our early ancestors measured time by observing the sun and moon, and today, thanks to technology, we can know the exact time every second of the day. But time is about more than numbers. It’s connected to feelings and memories, and our experiences can make time feel like it's moving too quickly or passing very, very slowly.

Just a Minute delves into the past, present and future of humans’ experience of time and how we track, use and try to manipulate it. Learn how the master timekeepers in our brains work, explore how animals and plants tell time and discover how our perception of time changes with what we’re doing and as we age. We can’t control time, but we can make every second count!

The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Praise for Kirstie Hudson and Monique Polak

★ “A chronicle that will galvanize many young artists with their own history to honor, and Americans will see parallels with our country’s history of assimilationist schooling.” ―The Bulletin for the Center for Children's Books, starred review for Picking Up the Pieces

★ “A powerful testimony to the strength and resiliency of survivors and their families as well as the lasting impact that these institutions and policies have had within Indigenous communities. Highly recommended for school and public libraries." ―Canadian Children's Book News, starred review for Picking Up the Pieces

★“The writing is fluid and easy to read, perfect for the middle school set…Polak’s text explores memory from numerous angles and adapts its tone accordingly, from humorous to respectful and solemn when needed. The real-life examples are fascinating, and readers will come away with in-depth knowledge on the mind…A must-have title for libraries.” ―School Library Journal starred review for Remember This

Kirstie Hudson is an award-winning writer, editor and journalist. She was a long-time reporter and producer with CBC Radio. Kirstie coauthored two books with Indigenous artist Carey Newman. Picking Up the Pieces was a finalist for the City of Victoria Butler Book Prize. The Witness Blanket was the winner of the Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-Fiction and a finalist for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. As an instructor at the University of Victoria, Kirstie shared her love of storytelling with students in writing and journalism. She lives in Victoria, BC.

Monique Polak is the author of over 30 books for young people including Remember This: The Fascinating World of Memory, Open Science: Knowledge for Everyone and What World is Left. She is a three-time winner of the Quebec Writers’ Federation Prize for Children’s and YA Literature, now called the Janet Savage Blachford Prize. Her work has also been nominated for prizes such as the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction and the Arthur Ellis Award. She lives in Montreal.

Paige Stampatori is an illustrator based in Kitchener, Ontario. She graduated from Sheridan College's honors illustration program in 2020. Paige is the illustrator of Why We Need Vaccines: How Humans Beat Infectious Diseases.