The World in a Second

Gr 4 Up—This mesmerizing picture book shows events all over the world that take only a second to elapse. Beginning with the opening page ("Every time a second crosses the world…millions of things happen, here, there, everywhere…"), scenes unfold, depicting activities both typical and unexpected (a volcano erupting, an old woman getting ready to go to sleep, a house being demolished). The book concludes with a map of the world that indicates where and when each moment took place. The text is straightforward, but the illustrations are stupendous. Deceptively simple, the art is flat, with a graphic feel, featuring a muted palette. Perspective is critical to the effectiveness of the images; they're presented from various creative points of view that influence viewers' perception of the scene. Teachers can easily use the spreads as writing prompts for students.