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A Child Through Time: The Book of Children's History
This original look at history profiles 30 children from different eras, inviting children of today to discover the lives of the cave people, Romans, Vikings, and beyond through the eyes of someone their own age.
History books often focus on adults, but what was the past like for children? A Child Through Time is historically accurate and thoroughly researched, and brings the children of history to life--from the earliest civilizations to the Cold War, even imagining a child of the future.
Packed with facts and including a specially commissioned illustration of each profiled child, this book examines the clothes children wore, the food they ate, the games they played, and the historic moments they witnessed--all through their own eyes.
Maps, timelines, and collections of objects, as well as a perspective on the often ignored topic of family life through the ages, give wider historical background and present a unique side to history.Covering key classroom topics in a new light, A Child Through Time is a visually stunning learning tool for children ages 7 and up.
History books often focus on adults, but what was the past like for children? A Child Through Time is historically accurate and thoroughly researched, and brings the children of history to life--from the earliest civilizations to the Cold War, even imagining a child of the future.
Packed with facts and including a specially commissioned illustration of each profiled child, this book examines the clothes children wore, the food they ate, the games they played, and the historic moments they witnessed--all through their own eyes.
Maps, timelines, and collections of objects, as well as a perspective on the often ignored topic of family life through the ages, give wider historical background and present a unique side to history.Covering key classroom topics in a new light, A Child Through Time is a visually stunning learning tool for children ages 7 and up.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2017
22 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Philip Wilkinson
251 books31 followersPhilip Wilkinson (born 1955) is the author of non-fiction books for children and adults. He was educated at Corpus Christi College, Oxford. He worked as an editor prior to becoming an author.
He specializes in works on history, the arts, religion, and architecture and has written over forty titles.
He specializes in works on history, the arts, religion, and architecture and has written over forty titles.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
January 30, 2018
I think of DK as a trusted brand that excels in beautifully-illustrated, engaging non-fiction for children.
This book is a good example of the things they do well (and how they do it well). My 8 year-old enjoyed it, retained the information well and it sparked her curiosity about some of the people and eras mentioned (eg she wanted to read Anne Frank's diary after reading this book; I found an abridged version of the diary for her, and she enjoyed that too).
The premise of A Child Through Time is to introduce potted histories of a range of civilisations/eras/ historical events through child narrators. The timeline stretches from the Ice Age to the modern day. The creators took care to find examples from all continents. In addition to each event/civilisation, there are thematic spreads such as "toys through time", and also profiles of real historic children, including Tutankhamun, Mozart and Anne Frank.
This book works best as a taster to foster children's curiosity about history - the amount of information is limited. It can also work to complement children's existing reading if they are interested in historical fiction.
This book is a good example of the things they do well (and how they do it well). My 8 year-old enjoyed it, retained the information well and it sparked her curiosity about some of the people and eras mentioned (eg she wanted to read Anne Frank's diary after reading this book; I found an abridged version of the diary for her, and she enjoyed that too).
The premise of A Child Through Time is to introduce potted histories of a range of civilisations/eras/ historical events through child narrators. The timeline stretches from the Ice Age to the modern day. The creators took care to find examples from all continents. In addition to each event/civilisation, there are thematic spreads such as "toys through time", and also profiles of real historic children, including Tutankhamun, Mozart and Anne Frank.
This book works best as a taster to foster children's curiosity about history - the amount of information is limited. It can also work to complement children's existing reading if they are interested in historical fiction.
June 15, 2019
Decent book, thank God, it's not as bad as other 'progressive' propaganda books and rather gave fair point of view. I found the illustration and information delightful. However, I wish the author gave more focus to commoner rather than monarch/famous people.
August 18, 2020
Libro divulgativo de los que voy leyendo poco a poco para no saturarme. Muy bien hecho
June 5, 2023
A Child Through Time: The Book of Children's History by Phil Wilkinson, published in 2017, is an original and engaging look at history through the eyes of 30 children from different eras and cultures. The book profiles the lives of children from the Ice Age to the Cold War and shows how children lived, learned, played and worked in their respective times and places. The book features famous historical figures as children, such as Tutankhamun, Pocahontas and Marie Antoinette, and how their childhoods shaped their destinies. The book also includes maps, timelines and photographs that reveal fascinating facts about the children and their historical contexts.
This book is an excellent resource for children's literature, as it exposes them to a wide range of historical perspectives and experiences. The book introduces the reader to various aspects of history, such as geography, culture, religion, politics, science and technology. The book also explores the themes of childhood, family and identity across time and space. The book is written in simple and clear language that captures the voices and views of the children. The book is illustrated by Steve Noon, who uses bright and detailed illustrations to bring each child to life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is teaching a history topic, or themes around cultural diversity. The book is suitable for children ages 8 and up, but I think adults can also enjoy it and learn from it. The book is based on historical research and evidence.
The book has several educational objectives for children, such as:
- To develop their historical knowledge and understanding of different eras and cultures.
- To enhance their literacy skills through exposure to different types of texts and sources.
- To foster their empathy and respect for people from different backgrounds and situations.
- To appreciate the value of history as a way of learning about themselves and others.
- To cultivate their inquiry and research skills through exploration of historical questions and topics.
This book is an excellent resource for children's literature, as it exposes them to a wide range of historical perspectives and experiences. The book introduces the reader to various aspects of history, such as geography, culture, religion, politics, science and technology. The book also explores the themes of childhood, family and identity across time and space. The book is written in simple and clear language that captures the voices and views of the children. The book is illustrated by Steve Noon, who uses bright and detailed illustrations to bring each child to life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is teaching a history topic, or themes around cultural diversity. The book is suitable for children ages 8 and up, but I think adults can also enjoy it and learn from it. The book is based on historical research and evidence.
The book has several educational objectives for children, such as:
- To develop their historical knowledge and understanding of different eras and cultures.
- To enhance their literacy skills through exposure to different types of texts and sources.
- To foster their empathy and respect for people from different backgrounds and situations.
- To appreciate the value of history as a way of learning about themselves and others.
- To cultivate their inquiry and research skills through exploration of historical questions and topics.
November 20, 2022
Really neat idea. I love learning about the lives of normal people throughout history, and a child’s perspective was new and fun for me. As a parent, I might recommend reading this book together with your child, both because it’s pretty general information that would spark good discussion, but also because it’s pretty honest about violence and death.
January 23, 2019
Very good illustrations and explanations.
It is basically a history-illustration book explaining events with their effects on children's life. If you have strong imagination, you'll get the best out of this book. Sketches show their actual appearance, clothes, daily routines etc.
Book starts from early ages-BC and brings you to today.
Some children are from real life, like Pocahontas, Marie Antoinette and some are made up but they are all drawn very well.
I enjoyed reading this book side-by-side with google because you wonder details of historical terms and events as you read.
Best thing is; it does not tell events in political manner, just as is.
If you are a history enthusiast, this one will be fun for you to read.
It is basically a history-illustration book explaining events with their effects on children's life. If you have strong imagination, you'll get the best out of this book. Sketches show their actual appearance, clothes, daily routines etc.
Book starts from early ages-BC and brings you to today.
Some children are from real life, like Pocahontas, Marie Antoinette and some are made up but they are all drawn very well.
I enjoyed reading this book side-by-side with google because you wonder details of historical terms and events as you read.
Best thing is; it does not tell events in political manner, just as is.
If you are a history enthusiast, this one will be fun for you to read.
May 15, 2018
I think this was a recommendation of the author of the BYL curriculum. It is a really cool book about children throughout time...2 page spreads with a name and information about a family, a drawing of the child, what life would have been like (based on the family story - some are wealthy, others not) with other significant information for the time/location.
It covers early civilization through modern times so I think I'll buy it to use over the next few years as we study each of the different eras.
It covers early civilization through modern times so I think I'll buy it to use over the next few years as we study each of the different eras.
September 1, 2020
I used this beautiful book for homeschooling history lessons with my granddaughter during lockdown. It's very nicely done, and Granddaughter (aged 7) enjoyed it very much.
Strikingly beautiful drawn illustrations, and authentic visual resources.
I really liked the diversity: clearly a lot of thought went into making the 40 children featured as geographically, ethnically and socially diverse as possible. My granddaughter decided to mark a map with the location of each child (history and geography!), and although there was a noticeable cluster in Europe by the end of our lessons, there was a satisfying spread over every continent -- except Antarctica.
There are interesting context-setting chapters on general topics, such as food, toys, clothing, and others on big events, such as the Reformation, The World Wars and the American civil War, that would have affected the lives of some of the featured children. All of the chapters are well written; pitching the content with an appropriate tone for a younger child means that sometimes there are some .... "euphemisms," shall we say. The horrors of history can be a little soft-pedalled. For Teresa, a child living in Barcelona at the time of the Black Death, Wilkinson writes ... Many of their friends have caught the disease ... Amusingly, while we've been using the book, my granddaughter has discovered the "Horrible Histories" series (book and TV), which take exactly the opposite tack, revelling in the blood, guts and disgustingness -- and she loves it ...
We can always find things to quibble over about the children featured. Less, for me, the fictional ones (although I felt there were a couple of missed opportunities) as the 9 historical individuals -- some of them seem exactly right: Tutankhamen, who became Pharaoh a the age of 9, Pocahontas, whose famous encounter with John Smith might have happened when she was about 12 years old. I can see why Emperor Pedro II of Brazil made the cut, because he inherited his throne at the tragically young age of 5, and seems to have had a horrible childhood, at the mercy of ghastly guardians -- but Marie Antoinette?
But those are quibbles. This is a book that a child with an interest in history will delight to go over again and again, and perhaps even find more detail as their interest in history matures.
Strikingly beautiful drawn illustrations, and authentic visual resources.
I really liked the diversity: clearly a lot of thought went into making the 40 children featured as geographically, ethnically and socially diverse as possible. My granddaughter decided to mark a map with the location of each child (history and geography!), and although there was a noticeable cluster in Europe by the end of our lessons, there was a satisfying spread over every continent -- except Antarctica.
There are interesting context-setting chapters on general topics, such as food, toys, clothing, and others on big events, such as the Reformation, The World Wars and the American civil War, that would have affected the lives of some of the featured children. All of the chapters are well written; pitching the content with an appropriate tone for a younger child means that sometimes there are some .... "euphemisms," shall we say. The horrors of history can be a little soft-pedalled. For Teresa, a child living in Barcelona at the time of the Black Death, Wilkinson writes ... Many of their friends have caught the disease ... Amusingly, while we've been using the book, my granddaughter has discovered the "Horrible Histories" series (book and TV), which take exactly the opposite tack, revelling in the blood, guts and disgustingness -- and she loves it ...
We can always find things to quibble over about the children featured. Less, for me, the fictional ones (although I felt there were a couple of missed opportunities) as the 9 historical individuals -- some of them seem exactly right: Tutankhamen, who became Pharaoh a the age of 9, Pocahontas, whose famous encounter with John Smith might have happened when she was about 12 years old. I can see why Emperor Pedro II of Brazil made the cut, because he inherited his throne at the tragically young age of 5, and seems to have had a horrible childhood, at the mercy of ghastly guardians -- but Marie Antoinette?
But those are quibbles. This is a book that a child with an interest in history will delight to go over again and again, and perhaps even find more detail as their interest in history matures.
January 20, 2024
It is essential for children around the world to have clothing, food, a place to live, and education (the ability to read, write, and calculate) in order to live safely and securely.
They are the minimum standard of living.
As pointed out in this book, even today there are children who are not able to live the minimum life possible.
The fact is that children are victims, and it is very sad.
In the past, children helped their parents with work and housework.
Each member of the family was united and worked together.
The Huns family had tear-shaped scars on their faces to express their sadness over the loss of their loved ones.
Clothes were most beautiful in the 19th century and Renaissance era.
Mongolia is a country where people live the same way as they have in the past.
Even today, they live in Mongolian tents, the men ride horses, and they eat dairy products.
The idea of building the Silk Road for diplomatic trade between China and Europe is wonderful.
I would like to participate in a local tour.
In the early modern period, life suddenly became more modern.
A boy named Kaha’i made an “Outrigger canoe.”
It is still on display at the Outrigger Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.
I feel sorry for Russia's Anastasia royal family, who were massacred by Bolshevik communists.
Russia has a history of taking over countries and nationalizing the women of their people.
They are the minimum standard of living.
As pointed out in this book, even today there are children who are not able to live the minimum life possible.
The fact is that children are victims, and it is very sad.
In the past, children helped their parents with work and housework.
Each member of the family was united and worked together.
The Huns family had tear-shaped scars on their faces to express their sadness over the loss of their loved ones.
Clothes were most beautiful in the 19th century and Renaissance era.
Mongolia is a country where people live the same way as they have in the past.
Even today, they live in Mongolian tents, the men ride horses, and they eat dairy products.
The idea of building the Silk Road for diplomatic trade between China and Europe is wonderful.
I would like to participate in a local tour.
In the early modern period, life suddenly became more modern.
A boy named Kaha’i made an “Outrigger canoe.”
It is still on display at the Outrigger Hotel in Honolulu, Hawaii.
I feel sorry for Russia's Anastasia royal family, who were massacred by Bolshevik communists.
Russia has a history of taking over countries and nationalizing the women of their people.
March 22, 2020
A Child Through Time had a interesting concept but didn't quite work--it tries to comprehensively cover ALL historical eras but doesn't give enough facts about any of them. The illustrations are really nice but I didn't like the layout of the text on each page--a lot of pictures and chunks of text with no clear order.
September 29, 2019
Interesting look at periods of time and how life would have been like for the children - both boys and girls - living in it. Each child has a timeline that shows the span of their existence and offers information about artifacts from each time period.
January 30, 2022
A look at children's lives from the Ice Age 15,000 years ago to the present time. Readers see one child identified in each area and see what is happening around them. Wilkinson includes children from all over the world to show that civilizations were developing everywhere.
April 20, 2022
Clear information as about children through history. Ideal to compare with modern-day life. I like the link to real people. Ideal for UKS2 classes. I like the illustrations and fon't (strangely enough!) This can be used with lots of history lessons
July 1, 2018
A beautifully presented and most informative book.
August 14, 2019
Purchased as a gift for my granddaughter. Lovely book.
October 17, 2019
A good historical survey of how children have lived, in various climates, cultures, and classes, through the ages. TL; DR: kids’ lives SUCKED until maybe around the 1940s.
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December 18, 2022A good way to get a child started on imagining life in different times and places, with all its complexity and individuality. Recommended.
January 16, 2024
Very interesting and engaging, and really nicely illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews