Website: Timegraphics

TIMEGRAPHICS is a timeline maker for all ages.

Users can easily create public timelines that incorporate text, images, and media. The tool can be integrated into Google Services and exported into other programs and services. Timelines can be downloaded and include a watermark with the free version.

Librarians will find this online tool to be useful across the curriculum. Weave it into storytelling and history projects.

To visit the website, go to https://time.graphics/.

Website Review: Lightyear.FM

LIGHTYEAR.FM takes users on a journey through space, time, and music.

This amazing immersive experience demonstrates how far radio broadcast waves have traveled from the Earth over the past century. The default option takes users backwards through time beginning in 2015. Users hear short segments from popular music as they speed away from the Earth in light years.

The interactive site allows students to select the distance from Earth as well as click on celestial objects.

Librarians will find this easy-to-use website a fascinating way to help students understand space, time, and human broadcast history. Pair the website with books that explore these topics.

To visit the website, go to http://www.lightyear.fm/.

Book Review: Are We There Yet?

ARE WE THERE YET? by Dan Santat is an inventive picture book that explores the age old question “are we there yet?”.

When a young boy becomes bored on a long road trip to his grandmother’s birthday party, he imagines that time goes so slow that it begin flowing backwards. Along the way he sees pirates, knights, camels, and even dinosaurs. However, soon the story shifts to the future.

Careful readers will spot QR codes that can be read by electronic devices. These codes lead to secret messages. Young readers will also notice small things like the way the parent’s clothing changes and his dad’s beard grows as time flies. Children will also enjoy the play on the word “present” at the end of the story.

Librarians will find that the illustrator’s use of upside down pages will be a hit with children. Buy multiple copies of this book because it will fly off the shelves.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.dantat.com/

Published by Little Brown Books for Young Readers, an imprint go Hachette. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: What Was There

WHAT WAS THERE is a website that brings history alive through maps, images, and place-based stories.

The website uses technology to connect time and space. A “virtual time machine” allows users to explore places as they appeared in the past. Users can either explore photos already in the system or upload their own photos. The uploaded images then appear on a Google Map interface.

To explore the map, users can enter the name of a place or a zip code. The Google Map will zoom into the area and show images that are available. Image details include when the photo was taken, the title, description, user, tags, source, and copyright information. In many cases, uses can compare the photo to a street view showing what the location looks like today. It’s even possible to overlay the historical photos on the street view for a direct comparison. Other nearby photos are also shown.

Consider a library project collaborating with the local historical society to scan and add photos to this growing website.

To visit the website, go to http://www.whatwasthere.com/.