Monday, March 15, 2010

A Mighty Fine Time Machine

Bloom, Suzanne. 2009. A MIGHTY FINE TIME MACHINE. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills Press. ISBN 9781590785270 [Suggested Grade Levels PreK- 2]

REVIEW

Grant the Aardvark and Antoine the Armadillo have big plans for their cardboard box time machine until their friend, Samantha the Anteater, comes along and tells them it will not work. Even though she pitches in to help them try to make it work, it just will not take them to a different place or time. The boys start their own imaginary time travel by reading books on dinosaurs and traveling to the moon, while Samantha takes a more practical approach. She turns the box into a bookmobile, the ultimate time machine!

Imagination is the key to everything! Here readers learn that imagination is what it takes to turn a box into a time machine, then into a bookmobile. Readers also find out that if something does not succeed it does not mean it is a failure. This enjoyable and imaginative picture book has bright, energetic illustrations with simple, humorous text to complement the illustrations.

CONNECTIONS

This picture book would make a wonderful read-aloud for any occasion. It can also be incorporated with units on space, friendship, and cooperation. Young readers can describe times and places they would choose to travel to, as well as places Antoine and Grant might choose based on the books they were reading. A shelf could be dedicated to a library “bookmobile” and readers could suggest books to be included. Children can come up with other ideas for the box as well.

RELATED BOOKS

Other books for young readers about space and imagination:
Dunbar, Polly. FLYAWAY KATIE. ISBN 0763623660
Rocco, John. MOONPOWDER. ISBN 1423100115
Todd, Traci. A IS FOR ASTRONAUT: EXPLORING SPACE FROM A TO Z. ISBN 0811854620

By Kaye E. Bray

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