All in a day by Chihiro Takeuchi

A wonderful book about the passing of time during one twenty four hour day will have younger readers searching out hidden things on each page as well as learning about what happens in any twenty four hour period and the things which go along with the changing of the hour. Interestingly it also shows how devoted we are to the clock, how it regulates out lives as seven means getting up, eight means going to work or school, twelve means lunchtime and so on. Children will recognise just what the time is at each strike of the hour through the day, and have that time reinforced with the image of what happens. This is shown through the image of a house on each page with a clock on its top.

Within the house are a baker, a clockmaker, a family, a grandmother, a butcher and an artist, all with varying things to do at certain times of the day. It is just wonderful peering into others’ lives to see what time means for them.

For younger readers the sight of things happening as each hour goes by will intrigue and delight as they compare it with their own routines. And more importantly learn about time: how many hours in a day, what a clock face tells us, how life revolves around time, and what happens as each hour ticks away. They will have a great deal of fun learning about time from this offering with its humorous look at the various occupants of the house and seeking out the hidden objects. I loved looking a the progression of each room in the house, noting its changes over the twenty four hours, and I especially loved the night time scene when everyone is asleep, except for some animals and then the baker getting ready for his day. 

And curiously a plane is in the sky (I live in Adelaide where there is a 6 o’clock curfew!).

Bright, engaging illustrations cover each page and children will eagerly seek out the differences from one page to the next in the same room in the  house. 

Chihiro's detailed, paper cut artwork instantly engages readers. With their attention focusing on the hour and what happens at that time of the day, the reader learns about the significance of that hour of each day, learning to tell the time along the way. Berbay’s mantra, ‘Clever books for curious kids’ shines out in this unique picture book.

Themes: Time, Clock, Humour, Paper cut-out, Passage of time.

Fran Knight