Tick-Tock

School Library Journal

Gr 1-3--In this introduction to measuring time, Dunbar begins by using heartbeats to illustrate the difficulties in using a nonstandard, inexact method. He then discusses the different units from seconds to centuries and explains activities that could take place in these respective periods. There is a brief mention of seasons, as well as an explanation of the terms past, present, and future. Basic information is supplemented by examples and activities in clear, bold lettering. Cheerful pastel drawings fill each two-page spread. There are slight inaccuracies ("When four weeks are put together, they make one month"), some unnecessary inclusions ("We seem to dream things in no time at all. We can fly to the moon and back...and we may be chased by monsters!"), and an omission (no digital clocks are depicted in the book). Similar to Stephen Krensky's Big Time Bears (Little, Brown, 1989), which covers the same concepts in a simpler fashion, this title is a serviceable offering where additional material is needed.--Anne Knickerbocker, formerly at Cedar Brook Elementary School, Houston, TX