5 Children's Books About Time

How to tell it, how to feel it, how to savor it, and how to appreciate it

The Valentine’s Day party was of middling success—unfortunately, due to weather, it had to be pushed out which meant only half of the guests could make it. Even so, it was so much fun to see friends and catch up on what was otherwise a gloomy winter day. Did it feel like Valentine’s Day? No—the guest count was too small for some of the fun Valentine’s Day themed activities but the food was gobbled down, conversation was overflowing, and the kids were exhausted. So, still a success in my book!

Round And Round The Year We Go

Written and Illustrated by Carter Higgins

Recommended Ages: 3+ years old

A rhyming, rhythmic primer to introduce the concept of time to our (really) little ones who are just starting to grasp seasonal changes. In clapping beat, this book carries us through each month highlighting what we experience in that month, how it fits into a season, and the holidays and celebrations we observe. The paint, pencil, and crayon illustrations are absurdly charming—beautifully and professionally done but possessing all the sweetness and innocence of a child’s artwork.

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A Second Is A Hiccup

Written by Hazel Hutchins and Illustrated by Kady MacDonald Denton

Recommended Ages: 5+ years old

Starting with a second (which is as long as a hiccup), the book builds through all the units and measurements of time in a brilliant crescendo. What I love best about it is how it contextualizes time—it breaks down the concept of time into things kids will understand. The quaint watercolor and pencil illustrations capture all the things we can do in each unit of time. This book is great for kids who are starting to build on the abstract and can understand quantities adding up to a bigger quantity.

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It’s About Time

Written by Stuart J. Murphy and Illustrated by John Speirs

Recommended Ages: 6+ years old

I’m a big fan of the MathStart book series. It’s a series that exposes kids to various math concepts in a way that is dear and familiar to most kids—via picture books! We follow a young boy’s day, noting the two clocks (analog and digital) that denote the time as each new activity occurs. It’s a straightforward premise and the repetition may feel boring to us adults but it does a great job of teaching kids how to tell time and how the progression of time affects our day.

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Catching Time

Written by Rachna Gilmore and Illustrated by Kirsti Anne Wakelin

Recommended Ages: 6+ years old

While the last few books focus on how to measure time, this book touches upon perhaps the most abstract concept of time: its fleeting nature and, therefore, the value of it as a resource. This beautiful book imagines the notion of time as something to be caught, to be held, to be treasured, before it speeds up and slips through your fingers once again. Sara, a young girl, wants to go to the playground and play with her friends but the constant reminders from her parents that they have no time, leads her to decide to take matters into her own hands. Determined to find and capture time, Sara embarks on an adventure looking for and trying to catch time. The fanciful, whimsical painted illustrations of what time looks like to a young child are masterfully done—gears and growth, all serve to represent time.

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Time Flies

Illustrated by Eric Rohmann

Recommended Ages: 6+ years old

And while time is definitely something serious, that doesn’t mean it can’t also be fun and inspiring! In this wordless Caldecott Honor book, a bird flies into a museum and comes across the hall featuring towering dinosaur skeletons. Flitting here and there, it flits through the skeletal jaws of a T. Rex. As it flies around, the skeletons morph into actual dinosaurs and we go back back back in time to the land when dinosaurs roamed the earth. The T. Rex. isn’t hollowed-out bones but a menacing creature with a gleam in its eye as it speculates the bird. And then, with a snap of his jaw, the bird is trapped in the T. Rex.’s mouth. The bird sweeps through the belly of the T. Rex. to emerge out of its bony tail. A truly gripping story has a provocative end that raises the question whether the bird and dinosaur are truly that different. The absolutely stunning illustrations are a marvel of art that perfectly captures the drama and adventure in this quintessential predator vs prey tale that also disguises how significant history can be!

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Let’s Talk…

• What’s your favorite time travel show or book?

• What is the slowest part of your day?

• What is the fastest?

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