Somewhere in the World Right Now

Since our daughter is from China we often talk about how it's night time during the day or when it's at dusk here it's dawn there. This is an excellent book that shows different parts of the world and what the people and or animals are doing there. And a book that grows with your child. As your child gets older they will be able to understand that one full rotation equals 24 hours that there are 24 equal time zones and the International date line. The colorful illustrations are of: England, Uganda, Antarctica, Madagascar, India, Bhutan, China, Siberia, Australia, Alaska, California, Belize, Chicago, Guatemala, Honduras, Florida, Jamaica, Quebec, Peru and Boston.

I knew this book was about time zones from reading the reviews. But I wasn't prepared for how rich and well-thought out the text was. Schuett is a long time illustrator writing her first book and she has done a really remarkable job. I feel as if she composed the text and pictures simultaneously (which, no doubt, she did). They blend perfectly. The book contains a map of the world with its timezones, as well as some background for parents briefly describing the history of time. But the most incredible thing about this book is the maps. Each illustration, which shows people in the world moving about their day, is painted on top of a background which is an actual map of where they are. Including names of countries, cities, rivers, and so on. This special touch takes this book to a whole new level. For one thing, how many children look at a globe, with its colors and grid, and strange markings and really realize what it means? That the map represents another town, like your own in some ways, with people who do what you do (read bedtime stories, head out for a day of work, write a note for a friend and hide it in a secret spot). Use this book to introduce time zones, move on to a discussion of maps and globes, and finish with linear measurement. Use the city names on each page to locate exactly where these map exerpts were taken from and pin a piece of string onto your globe from your house to that spot. See how far away these families are from your house. And if they're on the other side of the globe -- literally -- that will make it all the easier to understand how, when the sun is shining here, it must be dark there! This is a MUST OWN for homeschooling or any family who has elementary school children.

Have you ever wondered what it is like, right now, on the other side of the World? What people in different countries are doing, right now? With this book you can get a glimps of Kenya in velvety darkness, day break in India, Australia in late afternoon shade........and on around the globe. Also learn about how and why daylight savings time came about, and the reason for the Internation Date line........and why it's crooked!

This book is a wonderful, colorful book that is very well written and is a great plot line. It follows the activities of various people around the world at the same moment in time - explaining about time zones. It starts with a baker in London and ends with a child going to sleep in Boston. Each page/location has lovely illustrations, including an overlay of a map of that city. It makes a lovely gift, especially for children who have contact with other countries (or parents who want to expose their kids to other cultures and countries). I've bought several copies for friends and family!

Schuett is able to gently explain the concept of time zones using beautiful, soft language and lovely illustrations that mix paintings with maps of the world. Her reader's note is for a more advanced reader, but the book itself reads like a lullaby. A perfect bedtime read that will, no doubt, provoke a multitude of questions about our world and other cultures. Highly recommended.