Telling Time: How to Tell Time on Digital and Analog Clocks

by Jules Older, Megan Halsey (Illustrator)

Overview

Telling time becomes clear and easy for young readers in this bright and lively introduction to measurements of time. From seconds to minutes, hours to days, exploring what time is and discovering why we need to tell time, helps young readers understand more than 'the big hand is on the one and the little hand is on the two'. Megan Halsey’s playful illustrations depict imaginative digital and analog clocks that range in design. With the help of a whole lot of clocks, a dash of humor, and a few familiar circumstances, learning to tell time is a lot of fun. It's about time.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780881063974
Publisher:	Charlesbridge
Publication date:	02/01/2000
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	66,885
Product dimensions:	9.06(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.17(d)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Jules Older has worked as a broadcaster, editor, psychologist, educator, college counselor, psychology professor, medical educator, disc jockey, ski instructor, and even as a villain on TV (for one month). He is the author of more than twenty children's books, including PIG, COW, and ICE CREAM.

Jules writes funny, accurate, lively books for chidren. He visits schools and libraries across the country to encourage children to read and write. Jules donates 7.5 percent of all earnings from his children's books to causes such as The Heiffer Project and Doctors Without Borders. He lives in San Francisco, California.

Read an Excerpt

When people talk about telling time, they don’t mean,
(Continues…)

---

Excerpted from "Telling Time"
by .
Copyright © 2000 Jules Older.
Excerpted by permission of Charlesbridge.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Editorial Reviews

Older covers more than just the specifics of telling time. He discusses the broad concept of time and tires to get children thinking in terms of "when things happen" and "how long things take." In a lively, upbeat tone, he explains why we need to be able to tell time, introduce calendars, and talks about units of time—from seconds to millennia. Pastel-colored illustrations (including many easy-to-read clock faces with large numbers) and lots of white space lend themselves to an uncluttered design. The book can be used with children of various ages because it includes a lot of information, even how to read Roman numerals. The author ends with a rhyming poem to help kids remember what they've learned: "Seven days make one whole wee,/ 10,080 minutes—eek!/ A month is four weeks, sometimes more,/ I'd like to spend it at the shore." The rest of the poem is followed by a page of intriguing Web sites for children and adults.
—Booklist

Beginning with a robust "TICK" and ending with an equally bold "TOCK," Older acts as both an encouraging coach and cheerleader for youngsters learning about time. He defines the concept clearly, citing two meanings—when things happen and how long things take. After delving into how time can be broken down (from a second to a century), the author gets down to the nitty-gritty of telling time. He begins with the easier digital-clock face. Once that is thoroughly explained, he ponders the more difficult analog clock. Readers are taken through the process of reading it, and little tests are thrown in to keep students on track. Answers are given in the text, along with rewarding smiley faces. ("Yes! It's seven-thirty. You deserve another smiley face!") The cartoon illustrations, showing children and many, many types of clocks are colorful, plentiful, and inviting. A rather silly poem is appended to help readers remember how long things take: "Sixty seconds make a minute,/ that's a lot of seconds, innit?" Although a.m. and p.m. are discussed ("...breakfast is at six A.M., but supper is at six P.M.") they are never really defined. Beyond these minuscule qualms, this jovial look at time and time telling is as handy as they come.
—School Library Journal

From the Publisher