Book

All in a Day

📖 Overview

All in a Day combines the work of ten renowned international illustrators to capture simultaneous moments in children's lives across different time zones. The book presents a series of wordless illustrations showing January 1st activities in nine locations around the globe. The concept originated from author Mitsumasa Anno's experience watching a sunset in Istanbul, which led to his realization about the sun's constant presence across different parts of the world. The illustrators include Eric Carle, Raymond Briggs, and Leo and Diane Dillon among other notable artists. The book includes educational content about Earth's rotation, time zones, and seasonal changes across the planet. Each illustrated scene connects to the others through the shared element of time, despite showing different cultural contexts and geographical locations. The work explores themes of global connection and unity, suggesting how singular moments link people across vast distances despite their diverse daily experiences and circumstances.

👀 Reviews

Readers value this book for teaching children about time zones and daily routines across different cultures. Parents note it helps explain why relatives in other countries are awake at different times. Readers appreciate: - Detailed illustrations that reward repeated viewing - Cultural diversity shown through everyday activities - No text, allowing children to create their own narratives - Scientific accuracy in showing Earth's rotation Common criticisms: - Complex concept for young children under 5 - Some scenes appear too small to see details - Price high for page count Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (186 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (31 ratings) One parent wrote: "My 6-year-old spends 20+ minutes examining each page." Another noted: "Finally helped my child understand why grandma in Japan is going to bed when we wake up." A few reviewers mentioned the book works better as a teaching tool with adult guidance rather than independent reading.

📚 Similar books

Around the World in 80 Days by Peter Sís Shows children's journeys across multiple countries and time zones through detailed maps and intricate illustrations that reveal cultural connections.

Wake Up, World by Beatrice Hollyer Documents real children's morning routines across eight countries through photographs and shows how daily life unfolds in different time zones.

If You Lived Here: Houses of the World by Giles Laroche Presents homes from different cultures and regions through detailed cut-paper art that reveals how people live across the globe.

One World, One Day by Barbara Kerley Captures children's daily activities across multiple countries through National Geographic photographs that highlight universal human experiences.

This Is The Way We Go To School by Laine Falk Depicts children's diverse journeys to school across different countries and terrains through illustrations that emphasize global connections.

🤔 Interesting facts

🌍 Mitsumasa Anno was inspired to create this book after witnessing a spectacular sunset in Istanbul, where he realized the same sun was simultaneously rising somewhere else. 🎨 The book features artwork from ten different illustrators, each bringing their unique cultural perspective and artistic style to represent different parts of the world. ⏰ "All in a Day" was one of the first children's books to tackle the complex concept of time zones through visual storytelling, without relying on words. 🏆 Anno received the Hans Christian Andersen Award (often called the "Little Nobel Prize") in 1984 for his lifetime contribution to children's literature. 🌅 The book cleverly uses January 1st as its focal point, a date that takes 24 hours to arrive around the globe, making it particularly meaningful for demonstrating time differences.