When I Was Your Age

by Danette Byatt, Danette Byatt (Illustrator)

Overview

Peer into the future and reminisce about the present with this sci-fi picture book that speculates about a hopeful someday for today’s children.
 
Are you ready for a futuristic trip down memory lane? In this imaginative picture book, a grandmother reminisces to her grandchild Indigo about her childhood, back when humans lived on Earth and children biked to school instead of flying. On the new planet, robots do chores, telepathy has replaced texting, and cakes are 3D-printed. Each clever parallel between the past and present reveals both sweet similarities and stark differences. And though things are vastly different in this marvel-filled future, there is one thing that remains the same: the future is still bright.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781546002567
Publisher:	Worthy
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.45(d)
Age Range:	4 - 7 Years

About the Author

Danette Byatt lives in Kitchener, Ontario, where she writes, illustrates, and designs all sorts of fun projects when she’s not out hiking, swimming and exploring — or burning up the dance floor (aka her living room). Danette’s favorite stories to tell contain uplifting messages of love, truth, and freedom. She also adds delightful small details, humor, and whimsy to everything she does. More about Danette and her creations can be found at danettebyatt.com. 

Editorial Reviews

"The story is colorful and inviting, and savvy storytellers will be able to use this book to start conversations comparing time periods. The busy, energetic illustrations do a lot to enhance the tale, color-coding memories in blue and contrasting them against the red of the planet. Observant readers will notice that Gran’s experiences feel contemporary, meaning her past is set somewhere in our present."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-11-29
A book that looks ahead to the future and back to the present.

On a red planet near Earth, a pale-skinned grandmother with dual colored white and black hair tells her grandchild Indigo, who is pale-skinned with straight brown hair, about her childhood. The grandmother’s blue monochromatic memories parallel Indigo’s adventures, from playing with pets—Gran’s dog Mumford and Indigo’s alien Slurp—to making cakes (Gran's being baked in an oven and Indigo’s being printed in layers in a futuristic device). Although their childhoods may seem worlds apart, Gran ultimately concludes that they’re not that different, as both grew up having fun. The story is colorful and inviting, and savvy storytellers will be able to use this book to start conversations comparing time periods. The busy, energetic illustrations do a lot to enhance the tale, color-coding memories in blue and contrasting them against the red of the planet. Observant readers will notice that Gran’s experiences feel contemporary, meaning her past is set somewhere in our present. It’s an interesting approach, but the wistful message of reflection may not entirely resonate with the intended audience and may instead strike a stronger chord with caregivers and educators. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Beautiful, but is it too hip for the room? (Picture book. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews