Customer Reviews

Then and Now (Usborne Talkabout Books)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My son who is 7 loves this book. He loves to pour over this book and talk about the differences between different eras. This book is essentially a picture book with some writing. The pictures depict two scenes side by side from different times in history. For example, it might show the front of a general store with a dirt road, a stage coach, and wagon pulled by horses, women in long dresses etc. And on the other page it would show the front of a grocery store now with grocery carts, cars, etc.

How can you teach a preschooler about how society changes over time? It is a very difficult task, but one accomplished with this book. Filled with fabulous, detailed illustrations, this book compares the way things were done "then" (late 1800s/early 1900s)to how they are "now". I had fun discussions with my 4 year old daughter about how people used to cook,
shop, and farm, for example.

This is a book published from Great Britain, so there are a few little "Briti-cisms" (i.e. calling a sweater a "jumper"), but it is entirely appropriate for American audiences nonetheless.

I first found Then and Now on a booklist for Sonlight's homeschool curriculum (for pre-K). It's a great help in teaching kids about the changes in society over the year. My 4yo son really enjoys looking at it and finding the differences between the pictures of "then" and "now."
Recommended!!

This book is set up with parallel scenes of "Then" and "Now." There's a street scene from "then" followed by a street scene from "now." The pictures are very detailed, giving the opportunity to make a lot of comparisons. The text calls attention to some of the differences between them, as well as being interactive, prompting the child to look for certain things. There is also the opportunity to use some reasoning skills when the child is asked why a store then might have had a cat and gives a hint to look under the chair (a mouse) or to count the number of people needed to harvest the field "then" and "now."

One thing I wish this book had done was to identify when "then" is. I could certainly see some adults not being able to peg the exact timeframe. And, I'm also not convinced that there isn't some variation in the timeframe of the scenes, like by several decades. It's roughly though in the late 1800s or early 1900s.

This book is British, so there is a reference to a "jumper," meaning a sweater, whereas an American would think of a sleeveless dress usually worn with a shirt underneath. But, I didn't catch any other Britishisms.

Also, the last page of the book has a "puzzle picture" with 6 unidentified objects that the reader is challenged to supply the names of. But there are no answers anywhere. Certainly some of them any adult could identify, but the phonograph perhaps not.

Still, this is overall a worthwhile book, and very helpful in showing children how things have changed over the years. I would recommend it to the parents of elementary aged children.

I have been enjoying reading this to my son and I think that one day I will be able to take it to the classroom to share with students!

Great book for comparing how different life is today compared with long ago. We have talked about grandma and grandpa not having electricity and cars and interesting things like that. Keeps my 3 1/2 year old and 5 year olds attention.

This is a good book and most people pictures look white. Even when colored, figures do not show ethnic features. Of course, that is not the point of the book, but still the ethnic makeup of the US has changed considerably. The comparisons between then and now seem a little dated, but even so, are worth showing to children to learn objects from the past. I'd like a revision of this book. Still recommended even with drawbacks.

I can't wait to sit down with my grandchildren and go through this book! It will be a conversation starter and create the opportunity to share our family history.