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