Granddad gets so disappointed with Sally when she comes in from playing outside looking like a mess. She usually has leaves in her hair, bugs on her face, and twigs behind her ears. Sally would love to please her Granddad, but how can you climb trees, fight dragons, and make forts without getting a little dirty. Granddad tells Sally that when he was her age, he never got so filthy...or did he? When Sally accidently winds Granddad's watch backwards, Granddad goes back in time to when he was a child. It is then that we discover the real truth about Grandpa. The young reader will be able to identify with this fun-loving little girl and her Granddad in, 'The Backwards Watch' by Eric Houghton.

Similar authors: Patricia MacLachlan; Mercer Mayer; Harriet Ziefert

Similar books: Grumpy Grandpa by Heather Henson; Good Morning, Sunshine: A Grandpa Story by Sharon McKenna; Grandpa Loves by Rebecca Kai Dotlich; Grandpa's Surprise by Rosalind Beardshaw; William and Grandpa by Alice Schertle; Gus and Grandpa by Claudia Mills; Grandpa's Quilt by Betsy Franco

Reviewed by: mb

Date read: 8/3/2011

ISBN-10: 0531059685

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Twelve year old Alex MacPhersons' parents vanished years ago. Traveling to Scotland, the scene of his parent's disappearance, he makes friends with children whose Mother is also missing. Not believing in coincidences, they explore a mysterious cave near their home in hope of finding a clue to their parents whereabouts. They are naturally astounded when they are suddenly transported to 12th century Scotland and the camp of hero William Wallace, who is fighting to win freedom from England. What does this have to do with the missing people? Many exciting battles and narrow escapes add to this exciting, history-rich, mysterious, time travel adventure.

Reviewed by: Ellen Lundell

Date read: 9/17/2009

ISBN-10: 0887768865

ISBN-13: 9780887768866

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William uses a magic token he receives for his twelfth birthday to return, through the toy castle in his attic, to the medieval land of Sir Simon, which is now menaced by a skeleton ship bearing a plague of rats. This is the sequel to The Castle in the Attic.

Reviewed by: sc

Date read: 3/27/2009

ISBN-10: 044040942X

ISBN-13: 9780440409427

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One day, Bushi is chased by a group of older kids, 'The Bullfrogs.' They like nothing more than to dominate younger students. Bushi runs until he finds a door, which he enters, escaping his pursuers. There, he finds the black belt of a karate master, and strapping the belt around him transports him to a long ago world. When he arrives, the Master teaches him a lesson he can use to adopt the spirit of a tiger and triumph over the bullies. This title is in picture book format, but suitable for older readers.

Reviewed by: emc

Date read: 2/26/2010

ISBN-10: 0375901574

ISBN-13: 9780375901577

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James lives in a biracial, musical family which he finds tedious at times. When the family is called to London for his mother to perform, James goes sight-seeing with his father. (Oh, no, not again). On one of these visits in London, James discovered a portal that leads him to the 1600's. What happens theatrically and politically during the 1600's leads to a real education for James (and the reader). What a difference in how people lived then and now. He must solve a problem from the 1600's before he can return to present London. A great book for boys that like history from the point of time travel.

Reviewed by: cj

Date read: 9/20/2010

ISBN-10: 0689864787

ISBN-13: 9780689864780

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