Author: Daniel Bernstrom
Illustrator: Shane W. Evans
Genre: Picture Book
Target Ages: 4-8
Prime Audience: Children Who Don't Like School; Children Who Struggle with Fear; Children Who Are Close to Their Grandparents
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Year: 2020
When Big Papa shows up with his time machine because his grandson doesn't want to go to school, he takes him on a ride through his personal history. And during each stop on their ride through time, Big Papa's grandson sees Big Papa overcome a fear. "That's called being brave," Big Papa says before they move on. And by the time they return to the present day in front of the school, Big Papa's grandson understands many more things about life and, most importantly, Big Papa's love for him.
Big Papa and the Time Machine is a heartful story of a grandfather and his grandson, one that echoes Daniel Bernstrom's relationship with his own grandfather as he depicts in his author's note at the end of the book. Shane W. Evans's bright, bold colors bring the present and the past to life, and the reader rides along with the grandson in experiencing the important moments in Big Papa's life. This book will prompt the grandchild to ask and it will prompt the grandparent to share as it reminds us that our memories— our histories— matter to the ones we love.
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