Die Uhr Meiner Großmutter

by Geraldine McCaughrean, Stephen Lambert

In grandmother's house there is a grandfather clock, but it does not go. The hands on its big face never move. But grandmother doesn't need the clock to show the time, she says that there are so many other clocks telling her the time. She can count the seconds by the beating of her heart, an hour in the time it takes for the bath water to get cold, a week by the dust that settles on the grandfather clock and a lifetime in birthdays, friends and in what you can remember.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Family, Fiction

Hardcover

First published March 1, 2002

About the author

Geraldine McCaughrean is a British children's novelist. She has written more than 170 books, including Peter Pan in Scarlet (2004), the official sequel to Peter Pan commissioned by Great Ormond Street Hospital, the holder of Peter Pan's copyright. Her work has been translated into 44 languages worldwide. She has received the Carnegie Medal twice and the Michael L. Printz Award among others.

Reviews

[Maggie Webster · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Grandmother's Clock is about a young girl asking her grandmother why she has a clock that does not work. The grandmother explains how time can be measured in moments rather than by looking at an actual clock. She gives examples as to how she is able to keep time. The grandmother is teaching the young girl that life can be measured in a completely different way than numbers. I think the major theme of this book is that it is important to not be too caught up in what time it is, but to live in the moment. I thought this book was a great book. I enjoyed reading it. I would recommend this book greatly because I think it taught life lessons and I think our generation is too caught up in checking the time always. It's important to just live life and let the days go on.

[Paige Czepiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

In "My Grandmother's Clock," a young girl asks her grandmother why she doesn't bother fixing her broken grandfather clock. She is curious as to how her grandmother could possibly tell the time when her clock doesn't work. Her grandmother explains that time can be measured beyond numbers — she tells the time in terms of her daily activities, natural occurrences, the transition between seasons, the sights/sounds/smells of town, and life milestones. As the grandmother tells her story, she implies that life is too precious to be measured by tangible things and that fleeting moments must be appreciated before they become memories.

A major theme in this story is the idea of living in the moment and enjoying the present for what it is before it becomes the past.

Rating: 5/5

I personally really enjoyed this story. I think it does a great job of addressing a topic that can be sensitive and cause people, especially children, to get emotional and even feel anxious. The language is beautiful, and the message it communicates is profound. I loved the life lessons present throughout the story and thought it was very moving.

I would recommend "My Grandmother's Clock" because it offers the opportunity for an age-appropriate discussion of the meaning of life and the importance of cherishing precious moments, even the simple occurrences of everyday life. Honestly, this is a story that is enjoyable for readers of all ages. Overall, it's very well-done and very meaningful.

[Ruby Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This picture book is great to use in a mathematics lesson, when teaching time. It acts as a great way to engage children in the topic of time which can often be confusing and difficult to grasp. The relationship between seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and months can be explored. Further to this, when reading the book with a class, the reading comprehension skills of pupils will be developed and may help with their mathematical problem solving activities.

[Leelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sweetest of picture books! The grandfather clock in her grandparents house doesn't work so she asks how her grandmother tells the time. We're treated to a discussion of all the ways we can measure time--not by looking at a clock but by noticing the world around us and people's actions.

[Hannah Knight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've seen a clock like that, but it told the right time. People tell time in many ways whether it is the hour or the day. People associate what they do with time.

[Elizabeth Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love this book. Could definitely do some great English and drama work from this

[wattoowattoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poetic book but kind of sad. It smells like a Sunday evening when the sun fades away.

[Heidi-Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

How cute this one is! The pictures are calm and old-timey. The book seems like it was set at the turn of the 20th century, perhaps a little after. And I love the way grandma tells time. A nice feel-good book that could bring an interesting addition to the Time/Schedules Book Time.

[Kate Hastings · Rating 4 out of 5]

--grades K-3
--grandma has a clock that doesn’t work
--other ways of telling time
How long until bathwater goes cold?
How long to read a page in a book?
Can observe shadows
Special events unique to day of week
Seasonal events like cocoons hatching

[Edenanna00 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great kids book. It shows how time is not measured by the ticking of a clock but by the things we do and what we make of our time.

[Alley Denney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute book! It shows children the importance of time with their families, nature, and ultimately with the people they love.

[Chelsea Kimmey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text would be great for 2-3rd grade ages because it can introduce a time telling lesson. Also the illustrations guide the reading for the reader.

[Bri Zabriskie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One my favorite random finds. Beautiful lyrical story with great illustrations!

[Berkin Unal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evet

[Tyler Lois]

What a story! The passion the grandmother in this story sees for everything part of life. She decides she doesn't need a clock to tell her the exact time of everyday because she wants to live it to the fullest without worrying how long there is left to get things done. On a day her grandchild is visiting the grandchild opens her grandparents grandfather clock to see it doesn't work because the only things in it is an umbrella, a cane, and a picture of King Zong. The grandchild doesn't understand the reason for this until her grandmother takes the time to show the beauty and ways, she can tell time without having something that counts for her.
I loved this story and the sweet nature of the relationships. The way the grandmother takes the time to talk her granddaughter through her thoughts and has such a large amount of patience is heartwarming.
I would read this story to my students when studying science to get them to observe the small things in life. I want to teach them to love who and where they are.