Big Papa and the Time Machine
Big Papa and the Time Machine
5.8/7
Bookroo
4.2/5
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Big Papa and the Time Machine

Written by Daniel Bernstrom & illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Hardcover
$17.99
$16.97
4 - 8
Reading age
40
Page count
19
Words per page
~348L
Lexile measure
Jan 14, 2020
Publication date

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What Does Bookroo Think of This Book

A loving grandfather shares from his personal history to help his grandson in this masterful work about fear, bravery, and family.

When a young boy is scared to start school, he receives a much needed visit from his Big Papa, who takes him on an inspiring and instructive journey in his “time machine”: a pristine 1950s era antique car complete with whitewall tires. The boy and Big Papa travel to five important moments in Big Papa’s life—including the night he met his wife and the day the little boy’s mom left him as a baby with Big Papa—when Big Papa himself was scared. Big Papa beautifully describes how he responded to these moments with bravery: “[S]ometimes you gotta jump in an ocean of scared if you ever gonna dance with an angel,” and “Sometimes you gotta love the unexpected if you ever gonna find love at all.” Bernstrom masterfully weaves oral histories into an answer to a present day problem, and his skillful touch of Ebonics conveys character while making the story easy to read aloud. Evans, whose impressionistic illustrations are done in mixed and digital media, alkyd paint, and pen, beautifully depicts past and present simultaneously, with a pastel color scheme that seamlessly differentiates between the ethereal past and the concrete present. Both Bernstrom and Evans describe in touching endnotes their personal connection with the story, a connection that readers will notice in this inspiring, remarkable book.

What Kind of Book is Big Papa and the Time Machine

Topics

feeling scaredgrandpafamily history20th centuryfamily  multigenerationaltime travelthe elderlygrandparentssex and genderboys and mencourageantiracisminclusivity

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Race, Ethnicities, & Nationalities

Where Does This Book Stand Out

  • Heartstrings

    The “Heartstrings” badge is awarded to books that provoke an exceptionally tender emotional response.

  • Heritage

    The “Heritage” badge is awarded to exceptional books celebrating personal heritage and family history.

What Questions Should I Ask My Child

  • Big Papa shares a number of times when he had to be brave even though he felt scared. When is a time you chose to be brave when you felt scared?
  • The boy in the story was discouraged from studying. Today, many children have much better opportunities to study and gain an education. What is your favorite subject to study? What subject is hard?

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The Creatives Behind the Book

Trivia to Know About This Book

What Has Daniel Bernstrom Said About This Book

Nothing yet! Let Daniel Bernstrom know that you want to hear from them about their book.

What Has Shane W. Evans Said About This Book

Nothing yet! Let Shane W. Evans know that you want to hear from them about their book.

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Book Details

ISBN
9780062463319
Publication Date
January 14, 2020
Publisher
HarperCollins
Illustration Details
The artist used patience, skill, mixed media, pen, alkyd paint, and digital media tools to create this book.
Page Count
40
Words Per Page
19
Audience
Picture
Reading Age
4 - 8 years
Est. Lexile® Level
~348L
Est. Fountas & Pinnell Level
~K
ATOS® Book Level
2.5
Accelerated Reader® Points
0.5
Accelerated Reader Quiz
509053
Accelerated Reader Interest Level
LG

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