About Time

Beautifully presented and illustrated, ‘About Time: A Children’s Guide to the History and Science of Time’ is an utterly fascinating and engrossing read. Written by Rebecca Struthers, one of a very few watchmakers in the UK who make timepieces from scratch, and Alom Shaha, a teacher with a passion for science, it helps readers understand how clocks work and the various ways which humans have tried to measure time across the ages.

A clear contents and index both help the reader to locate specific information, but this is one of those factual books which, although a joy to browse through, is easily read from cover to cover. Starting with an explanation of what time is, the book moves on to how time is divided, exploring developments over time and calendars around the world.

Looking at methods of telling time without a clock, the book offers instructions for making a sundial, a water clock and a sand timer, each carefully explained, to encourage children to engage with the subject further. Diagrams are used to clarify and explain the workings of clocks and watches, sure to tempt readers to deconstruct one and explore for themselves!

Information about past makers and contemporary artisans offers a fascinating look at the developments by designers, engineers and inventors from across the world and there is even some practical information about becoming a watchmaker. This is the first book I have seen devoted to horology, full of inspiration and information, and it is sure to pique interest and open up a new area of interest to anyone who reads it. There is also much here which will support and enrich the curriculum, making it a very useful text for teachers to have to hand as well.

About Time: A Children’s Guide to the History and Science of Time

Alom Shaha and Rebecca Struthers, illustrated by Lucy Rose

DK ISBN: 978-0241709320

The Time Tider

Mara and her father, Gabriel, live in their van and are constantly on the move. Her father is forever tinkering with watches, completely absorbed in his work, plotting the next stop on their never ending journey. Mara has never questioned their way of life until one day she discovers some papers hidden in the van referring to the to ‘the Tider’, someone responsible for harvesting lost time. Shocked and full of questions, Mara is left reeling when Gabriel is taken by a dangerous group who wish to use his powers for evil. Desperate for help, Mara tries to find her father’s friend, Lenny and meets a boy called Jan who seems determined to help her. Together, they must find Gabriel before it's too late.

My clumsy synopsis does not do justice to this brilliant book. It is such a well-crafted, absorbing story, set in a world where ‘spare’ time must be harvested by the Time Tider to avoid it gathering and causing warps; however, it also poses questions in the moral implications of someone having the power and responsibility this bestows and the potential for corruption and evil which might follow.

The author skilfully builds Mara’s world and the arts of the Time Tider with exerts from ‘The Time Tider’s Handbook’ being threaded through the story between chapters. Mara is a unique character. Isolated by their unusual lifestyle, their poverty and constant travelling, she is naturally distrustful and cautious, but also curious and courageous. You can’t help but cheer her on as she faces each challenge and decision she must take.

The Time Tider would make an excellent class read, sure to excite the imagination and lead to much discussion and exploration of ideas. I have loved each book by Sinead O’Hart, but feel this is her best yet!

The Time Tider Sinéad O’Hart

Little Tiger ISBN: 978-1788953306