There is a clock on the shelf at home, one on a tall building on a city street, and one in Joe's classroom. The illustrations, created with crayons, I think, are filled with movement, and several pages contain clocks, those timepieces that sometimes seem to rule our lives. Many readers will wish that they could do what Joe does in stopping time, but since that isn't possible, why not learn from his experiences and find moments to savor and notice the world around them. When he has finished with his picture, he tells the clock to start again, and time no longer stands still. He even notices something important that his sister Poppy dropped. While everyone else is immobile, Joe is able to retrace his path to school, but this time, he can take the time to notice all sorts of things, including the buildings and interesting people. Khan insists that everyone stop their work, Joe becomes annoyed because he isn't finished, and he somehow manages to stop the clock. Khan, his teacher, is also bound by the clock and the need to accomplish several assignments during the day, including having his students paint a picture of what they saw on the way to school. Who knows why they're running the risk of being tardy: Maybe Joe's been dawdling around all morning, maybe they all woke up later than usual or maybe his mother is multi-tasking and has too many chores that need to be completed. ![]() ![]() ![]() As is the case for so many families, Joe's mother is in a rush to get him to school on time. This picture book has a much-needed message for everyone about slowing down and paying attention to what's around them.
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