A clock is the first machine most children are asked to read, and nobody ever explains the rules. Why the short hand matters more than the long one. Why twelve sits at the top instead of one. Why “half past” means half of an hour that has not finished yet, and why “o’clock” is a word with an apostrophe standing in the middle of it doing the work of “of the clock.” Meanwhile the object itself is genuinely strange: a spring unwinds, a hand goes around a circle forever, and an entire town agrees to eat lunch at the same moment because of it. Picture-book makers have always understood that this is a premise, which is why so many clock books turn out to be chases, countdowns, and mysteries about somebody who is running late.
Drawing from Bookroo’s collection of clock and telling-time books, our editors picked thirteen worth owning: the Eric Carle read-aloud that quietly runs a clock face in the corner of every spread, the 1970 classic in which four clocks disagree and every one of them is right, a stopwatch a grandchild inherits and does not want, the straight how-to for a second grader with a unit test coming, and four novels where a clock is not decoration but the entire plot. Start with the shortlist, then browse the full collection by age — picture books for read-alouds and telling-time practice, and chapter books for readers who want a clock with a mystery attached.
A ladybug with a chip on her shoulder picks a fight on every hour, working her way up from an aphid to a whale.
Mr. Higgins buys a second clock to check the first one. This does not settle the matter.
The old clock tower is rusty, dusty, moldy, musty — and full of animals who are not moving out.
“I don’t want his stopwatch. I want him.”
Mr. Crocodile has scheduled his entire day around eating five monkeys. The monkeys have other plans.
Click Dark hosts twelve straight hours of rock and roll on American Batstand. Go-go boots and bobby sox required.
The mouse ran up the clock. Then eleven more animals took a turn, one for each hour.
Kid astronauts, Martian friends, and a pizza party that is some unknown number of hours away.
Clocks and watches are vanishing all over Capital City, and Private I has until the last minute to find them.
An orphan lives inside the walls of a Paris train station, secretly winding the clocks so nobody notices he is there.
Somewhere behind the plaster of the new house, a clock is ticking down to the end of the world.
A cold Duke has stopped every clock in his castle, and a prince has ninety-nine hours to find a thousand jewels.
An antique pocket watch that turns you invisible — and a hard limit on how long you dare wear it.
Hour-by-hour stories, cuckoo clocks, clock towers, and the read-alouds that teach a clock face without ever feeling like homework, for ages 3–8.
An elephant's birthday feast vanishes. Can you solve the mystery?
A toad helps a silent bird find its home.
What adventures await the mouse after the clock strikes one?
Mr. Wolf's day unfolds with surprises, ending in a party with familiar fairy tale guests.
Twins visit Grandma, but is she prepared for their antics?
Learn to tell time with adorable puppies and kittens.
Discover the magic of a day as kids learn to tell time through everyday adventures.
Solve riddles to master time-telling skills.
Can the Huskies beat the clock and the Falcons in their championship match?
Discover the fun of telling time with playful clocks and humor.
A cool cat climbs the clock, but what happens when time strikes one?
Join Dog on a time-telling adventure with a clicking clock.
Doomsday clocks in the walls, watches with powers, clockmakers’ apprentices, and mysteries that hinge on what time it was, for ages 6–11.
A young woman investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding a wealthy man's death and the disappearance of his will.
Discover 24 enchanting tales where time unveils magical adventures and mythical creatures.
A hidden secret at Goldwin University leads to a mysterious clock tower.
In a world split by time, Sophia must rescue her kidnapped uncle before it's too late.
A broken clock, lurking evil, and magical allies. Can two siblings save their world?
A clock's magic reverses time, making Michael younger each minute.
Discover a day in the life of Park Street's busy children.
Discover the secrets of Big Ben's history and architecture.
A magical locker offers time travel. Will Keisha fix her mistake or help her friends?
