Customer Reviews

A Street Through Time

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've had to buy a second copy of this wonderful book for my 14 year old son. He was deeply distressed when, thinking he'd outgrown it, I'd passed our first copy on to his school. The recommended age range is far too narrow, for adults have enjoyed it as a coffee table book as much as six year old visitors who find the transformation of years magical. My own children were impressed that civilizations do not always progress forward -- "The Invaders" and "The Plague Strikes" gave them a more dynamic sense of history. The fine illustrations pull the reader in, the rendering of characters give each of them full personality and interest. My kids generally have very limited interest in non-fiction; this one remains a favorite of their collection.

I originally bought this book for my older child, but my 4 year old son keeps this book glued to his side! I love the wonderful, detailed illustrations as well as the fascinating historical content. It brings to life the changes that occurred in a city in a way that words sometimes find hard to express, with a humor that children and adults alike will find charming. It has become one of my favorite books!

"A Street Through Time" is a lovely, informative, child-friendly approach to history. My five year old adores it. We have probably read it 50 times. Great details, great jumping off spots for all kinds of different discussions with kids.

I think the 9 - 12 age recommendation is too narrow. I think that inquisitive 4 and 5 year olds will love it too (and if they don't this year, they will soon!)

This is not a history text; it will not give you factoids or dates. But it will enliven your appreciation of the passage of time and the continuity of human existence. This is a large but lightweight book. Each page is approximately 13 by 10 inches, and each of the fourteen depictions are shown in a two-page spread of about 26 inches by 10. The site depicted is an area near a waterway, presumably in the English midlands, and the eras shown are 10,000 BCE, showing a winter settlement of Stone Age hunters; 2000 BCE, an early farming settlement; 600 BCE, the Iron Age; AD 100, during Roman occupation; 600, after the collapse of Roman civilization to barbarian invaders; 900, after the Viking raids; 1200s, a medieval village; 1400s, a medieval town; 1500s, during the Bubonic Plague; 1600s, during a time of religious wars; 1700s, the Regency period; early 1800s, the beginning of industrialization; late 1800s, a thriving city; and finally, a modern city. In successive time periods we see objects and buildings from the last era in ruins or having been adapted for other uses. We see that some things never change (boating or imbibing, for example) while others change markedly (technology, cleanliness, etc.), and that to "progress" is not always to move forward.

A fun book with lively cross-section watercolor drawings that will bring the concept of history to life, this book will lose some relevance for North American readers (who might also enjoy Gail Gibbons' FROM PATH TO HIGHWAY about the Boston Post Road through history), but it is still eminently worthwhile and enjoyable.

Though the age recommendation for this book is 9-12, our son got this book when he was only 4 years old and it has remained one of his favorites. Now, nearly two and a half years after he got it, it was taken into school just this week by him as "something special to show the class." Adults as well as kids can learn a lot about history from this book. Each page is from a different period in time, supposedly on the same plot of land (presumably in Europe). It is a great springboard for exploring ANY historical time... and where it fits in with others. The illustrations are wonderful and search-and-find type information snippets written around the borders help bring some starting points for discussion. Couldn't recommend this book more!

This is one of those books with GREAT detailed images that children love to dwell on for ages. Although they are looking for the similaries/changes from age to age, and looking for the little man cleverly hidden in each image, they are unknowingly also learning a LOT, as evidenced by the many questions they will ask. The idea of history and "long ago times" is often a difficult concept for younger children to grapple with, but this book (and others like it) serve as a great tool for starting to understand these ideas while they have great fun at the same time. Steve Noon has an remarkable artist's eye for detail (and for conveying it) that reminds me of David MacCaulay's books, which I also highly recommend, ex: "Pyramid", "Mill", "Castle", "Cathredral", etc.

My children greatly enjoy all the books in this series, and while Anne Millard does a great job with the facts it is the art of Steve Noon that really makes these books phenomenal. Easily understood information that is very interesting appears on each page, and with characters you can follow throughout the book you can spend a long time searching for them -- which allows you to really appreciate all the other historically accurate mini-scenes that play out all over. I will admit that I have been known to look through these books even when my children aren't around. This book, and all the others in this series, should be enjoyable for all children of all ages. Even those who aren't old enough to read will still love the pictures and learn something. Older children learn quite a bit, and keep coming back to the book because there is always something new to find. I highly recommend this book, and encourage any parent to add all of them to their collection!

This book presents a dozen historically significant dates and vignettes from the stone age to the present day. The realistic illustrations of the street, its buildings and inhabitants show a snapshot of each age plus lingering elements from earlier times. A scene from circa 1500 AD, for example, shows intimate details and panoramic views: a white cross marking the door of a quarantined house, the visible panic of a plague victim upon seeing the black pustules under his arm, a medieval windmill built on a prehistoric barrow, a castle built on the ruins of a Roman fort, etc. The drama and detail help history come alive for readers.

Adults may not learn anything new from A Street Through Time but children glean a great deal of information from the labeled illustrations and interesting facts listed in the margins. My kids inspect this book repeatedly, paying special attention to the activities of their young counterparts down through the ages.

This is a complete and utter thrill to read, both for me and my 7 year old son. We sit for hours looking over the book, discussing history from a more adult viewpoint. He has learned more from this book than he has from any other single educational document thus far.
I will get this book for everyone I know, and recommend it to everyone I don't know...watch out...their might be a run on this book, so buy it now.
We got it as a gift from a English friend who attended Oxford (full ride scholorship - a brillant guy). He loved it!!!

I would recommend this book to kids who are interested in history, because I love history and I loved this book. This book does have pictures, but adults may like it too. This book is a 12,000 year walk through history on one street. I thought it was great.