September 12, 2016
In this intimate meditation on the 60-second interval, Korean author-illustrator Ahn examines the way time seems to expand or contract depending on the situation. Childlike drawings in crayon-box colors follow a girl with pigtails and her impish companion, a small black-and-brown dog. Ahn supplies a few facts—“In one minute, you blink your eyes 20 times, and your hair grows .00068 centimeters”—then turns to the way time feels. On a carousel, “one minute is short”; in the dentist’s chair, “one minute is long.” When you’re with your friends, “it is short again.” The girl and her friends chase a soccer ball around the park as the girl’s mother sits and watches from a picnic blanket. The mother is pregnant, readers may notice, which leads nicely to the book’s final observations: “In a minute, someone can leave”—readers see the girl tearfully hugging her mother goodbye—“And someone can arrive.” (A page turn shows a brand-new baby on the girl’s lap.) Although it never says so explicitly, Ahn’s debut speaks to children whose sense of time is very different from the grownups who control it. Ages 3–5.
September 15, 2016
A sliver of time seems finite and yet, when explored in depth, is filled with possibilities both good and bad. "One minute is sixty seconds." So begins this speculative exploration of the concept of time. A little girl with tight black pigtails thoughtfully acts out each example. Her lime-yellow face glows with happiness as she squeezes her Chihuahua. "In one minute, you can hug your dog...." Simple enough. Yet from the start, this book takes a decidedly different approach to conceptual time than one that teaches readers about "before, during, and after." When gleefully riding a carousel, for instance, one minute is short. When at the dentist, one minute is long. Author/illustrator Ahn pushes the concept further by showing life's highs and lows, including examples adult readers are likely to interpret as death and new life. Thankfully, the sweet puppy is found on many pages. With simple illustrations and expansive white space, there is room for questions and discussion--but possibly too much room. The progression from blinking 20 times in one minute to watching the dog nearly being hit by a car makes this concept book a bit confusing. This could possibly be considered an effort to expand temporal perspective in much the same way that Istvan Banyai's Zoom (1995) does for visuals. It is thought-provoking enough for middle graders, but the format seems to aim it at the very young. For very bright and thoughtful preschoolers with patient adult readers. (Picture book. 3-6)
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November 1, 2016
PreS-Gr 1-At once charming and mildly troubling, this debut picture book from Korean author/illustrator Ahn explores the meaning of a minute through the experiences of a young girl. "Sometimes one minute is short (when your turn on the merry-go-round is over). Sometimes one minute is long (getting your tooth pulled)." While the story is conceptually solid and even endearing, there is a scene where the girl runs into the street to save her dog. "In one minute something can happen. Or something can be saved." This disturbing incident includes a screeching car and more than one oblivious passerby. What it lacks is a responsible adult or any consequences, turning this potential teachable moment into a simple close call. The tale ends with one of the most memorable minutes: when a new baby arrives home. Pencil and watercolor illustrations are childlike, sweet, and uncluttered yet are marred somewhat by the girl's skin tone, which varies inexplicably from chartreuse to bright yellow. VERDICT While this title might be fine in a classroom setting for a unit on time, it regrettably goes from recommended to additional in the minute it takes to read it.-Teri Markson, Los Angeles Public Library
Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2016
Grades K-2 Ahn captures the concept of time for the picture-book set in her thoughtful debut. An adult may describe a minute as merely 60 seconds. But how long is 60 seconds to a child? In one minute, you blink your eyes 20 times, and your hair grows .00068 centimeters. That still might be a bit too abstract, so Ahn helpfully puts it in context: during one minute, you can hug your dog, say hi to your neighbor, or plant seeds. Sometimes one minute can feel too short, especially if you're enjoying a ride on a carousel or spending time with best friends. It can also feel too long, like when you are at the dentist's office. Ahn poignantly demonstrates how one minute can be critical, like in catching the subway or saving your dog from being hit by a car. Highlighting both concrete and abstract thought, Ahn deftly translates time into a child's perspective, and the sparse text is nicely complemented by the colorful, childlike illustrations. An ideal educational tool for both home and school.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)
July 1, 2017
A simple text ably introduces the concept of one minute, in terms both factual ("In one minute...your hair grows .00068 centimeters") and experiential. Multifaceted illustrations, all focused on one girl, reinforce the book's insightfulness: "Sometimes one minute is important" shows her running for a train; "Sometimes one minute is nothing" shows her looking out the window at the rain.
(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)