by Daniel Bernstrom, illustrated by Shane W. Evans; HarperCollins Children’s Books, 2020.

Our young narrator is scared. He doesn’t want to go to school. Big Papa understands. He knows a thing or two about being scared, about being brave, and about love. Here, woven between and beyond the being scared is the tender story of a thoughtful caregiver Big Papa and the Time Machine (or beloved car) they ride along in as he imparts wisdom to the boy in his care.

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“From caring comes courage.“—Lao Tzu

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Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

CASEL (the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning) defines social-emotional learning as ” the process through which children and adults understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions.”

In his author’s note, Daniel terms bravery as “small displays of courage fueled by a heart full of love.” When we choose to share with children books that explore simple displays of courage buoyed by heart, we fuel time machines that propel children into a future bright with the option of bravery, one that acknowledges fear but also the means with which to loosen its grip. Such books open discussion, broaden possibilities, and strengthen a safe and affirming space in which to examine, explore, and become empowered to manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, build empathy, forge positive relationships, and choose to be responsible.

Grade level: K-Grade 3

Social-Emotional Learning Themes
Family, interpersonal relationships, bravery, courage, kindness, compassion, tenacity, perseverance, responsibility, helpfulness, perspective, fortitude, self-reliance, respect, gentleness, gratitude, effort, understanding, connection, diversity, self-assurance, resilience, hope, dedication

© Shane W. Evans

Content Area Connections

Community

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running

Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

Trailer for One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree.

Meet the Author video features Daniel reading his book, One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, to a group of young students (read-aloud begins at 7 minutes: 30 seconds).

Listen to a read-aloud of Gator, Gator, Gator.

Sign up to receive a free audiobook from Dan here.

Read a Publishers Weekly interview in which Daniel describes his writing process and the impetus for Big Papa and the Time Machine.

© Shane W. Evans

Write Away!

Ideas to prompt writing

At the beginning of the book, the young narrator confides that he doesn’t want to go to school and admits, “I’m afraid I’ll miss you.” Daniel Bernstrom reflects, “Any adopted child will tell you that what we’re afraid of is being left and no one ever coming back.” Explore how we feel when we miss someone. Ask children to write about a time when they were missing someone. How were their feelings soothed? Gather and share.

Big Papa and the Time Machine is structured with memories the young narrator’s grandfather shares to exemplify bravery. Each memory is capped with, “That’s called being brave.” Close read and review the examples. Ask children to write about a memory of their own that demonstrates bravery and end their writing piece with that phrase. Encourage children to use dialogue, as Daniel does. Illustrate memories and post below a banner that reads, “That’s called being brave.”

In the illustrator’s note, Shane W. Evans states, “Our family lineage is our family story–that line that holds us together…to make us who we are.” Ask students to interview their parents or caregivers and construct a family tree. Next, ask children to write about one person on the family tree who has “made you who you are.”     

© Shane W. Evans

Poetry Break 

Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing the daily morning meeting to lining up for lunch; from zipping up backpacks and jackets to transitioning from one subject to the next. Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept, celebrate language, exemplify rhythm, enhance vocabulary, expand understanding, increase attention span, initiate reflection, or summon a giggle. And, poetry soothes the spirit.

Daniel says this about poetry: “Kids respond well to poetry and I don’t think there’s enough of it.”

Poetry collections suggested for use with Big Papa and the Time Machine include:

• Follow the Recipe: Poems About Imagination, Celebration & Cake by Marilyn Singer, illustrated by Marjorie Priceman
• I Am Loved by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Ashley Bryan
• I Remember: Poems and Pictures of Heritage compiled by Lee Bennett Hopkins, illustrated by various artists
• Tag Your Dreams: Poems of Play and Persistence by Jacqueline Jules, illustrated by Iris Deppe (Look for the Children’s Book Corner blog post focusing on Jacqueline Jules and this book next month!)

© Shane W. Evans

And Then There’s This…

Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Throughout the story we learn ways in which fears are faced. With the group, chart ways in which we can turn our fears around. How can we help others when they feel scared?

In describing the art in Big Papa and the Time Machine, Bernstrom says, “[Shane W. Evans] created vivid bookends, leaving the middle kind of unfinished, like memory. The first couple of spreads are clear and sharp, then when you turn the page, it becomes dreamy and watered down. Memory is fuzzy; it isn’t all there. Then the end is vivid again.” Ask children to draw a “fuzzy memory” in the style of Evans’s art. Caption with a place and date as the memories are in the book. Gather and share. Display. 

© Shane W. Evans

The following collection of noteworthy picture books focus on bravery:

• A Brave Bear by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Emily Hughes
• Fight the Night by Tomie DePaola
• If I Never Forever Endeavor by Holly Meade
• Swim, Duck, Swim! by Susan Lurie, photographs by Murray Head
• when you need wings by Lita Judge
• The World Is Waiting for You by Barbara Kerley, illustrated by Ros Asquith

About the Author

Daniel R. Bernstrom is the author of the critically acclaimed picture books Gator, Gator, Gator!, One Day in the Eucalyptus, Eucalyptus Tree, and Big Papa and the Time Machine. Daniel currently works as an English Faculty member for Minnesota West Community and Technical College in Worthington, Minnesota, teaching Literature and English Composition. He received his Bachelor’s in Electronic Media Communications from the University of Northwestern and his MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. He currently lives in Worthington, Minnesota with his wife Heather, daughters LaVonne and Gwendolyn, and sons Grace and Haven. You can visit Daniel Bernstrom at www.danielbernstrom.com.

Q&A with Daniel Bernstrom

Daniel’s grace, humility, and enthusiasm were evident as he responded to a few questions about Big Papa and the Time Machine and his writer’s journey.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write the Big Papa and the Time Machine? What seeded its creation?

Daniel Bernstrom: Because I was adopted, I didn’t grow up knowing much about my African American story–only what I had heard during black history month, which was primarily about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (and not much else). So, I wanted…needed to know more about my history. I saw this book project as the perfect excuse to ask my biological grandfather questions. In the end, my conversations with my grandfather were something I looked forward to each week. I would call and ask about his life while taking notes. I just listened as he talked. I listened to those stories I had never heard before. Then I took his stories and distilled them into a narrative about his life. I initially titled the book A Long Time Ago Chicago. It was a very different book from Big Papa and the Time Machine. The use of dialogue as the primary story vehicle and my Papa’s favorite car (the 1952 Ford) happened later when my editor asked for me to make the story “more magical.”

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of Big Papa and the Time Machine or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.

DB: Big Papa and the Time Machine was actually the book that helped me get my start in publishing. My editor wanted to acquire this book, but someone (or several people) in a HarperCollins acquisitions meeting said that my book lacked a story. I appreciate the warm reception this book has received. More than anything I appreciate my editor, Jill Davis. She has a unique ability to see her way to the heart of a story. Big Papa and the Time Machine would not have been published without her dedication to finally acquiring and then publishing this book.

JB: At the heart of Big Papa and the Time Machine is the nurturing relationship Papa has with his grandson. Papa provides many examples of bravery and broadens the definition of this elusive term for his young grandson by traveling from present to past to future by way of story. Tell us about how you came to structure the book as you did and how you determined which aspects of bravery to highlight.

DB: To answer the question of how I came up with the structure, I used the idea of a time machine to transport myself in and out of time with my Papa. I imagined, what if I could go back in time to experience all of my Papa’s stories as a child? What if I could have a relationship with my grandfather? And so, the story formed. Somehow, my heartbreak and loss fell into the story, and I hope readers can feel the love and loss the child is experiencing. I know I keep bringing up story, but story is so important, especially to the African American culture, where most of their histories were passed down orally. Readers will find that the book is largely dialogue, a conversation, that oral passing down of history through story. Indeed, stories have the power to move us in and out of time. Stories are the best time machines we have: they help us remember, help us learn, help us be brave. When interviewing my Papa, he told many stories, but the ones that made it into this book were the ones that I think I needed to hear.  

JB: What did you learn from creating Big Papa and the Time Machine?

DB: I learned why the child in the story was afraid to go to school. Weird, right? I mean, how could I not know that right away? When I first started writing this book, I knew the child didn’t want to go to school, but I didn’t know why. Each child knows why they may struggle to go to school (first day of kindergarten or first grade, or first day of yet another new school after you’ve moved… again), but what I discovered for myself is that the child was afraid of being left at school, not knowing if he’d see Papa again: would Papa leave him just like his mama left him at Papa’s?

“You scared?” Big Papa said.

“I’m scared I’ll miss you.”

I hope this book will help children discover what I’m still learning: when we love, with all of love’s vulnerable attributes, love will make us brave.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of Big Papa and the Time Machine?

DB: I don’t know how many readers know that I was adopted. That information is in the author’s note at the back of the book. Also, I don’t know how many readers know I struggled to read. I repeated first grade because I couldn’t read, and had it not been for my mother spending hours teaching me… I can’t imagine. Reading was and is one of my greatest treasures. To this day, I struggle to learn new things. I’m a very slow learner. But I can read. And because I can read, I can solve almost any problem.

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from Big Papa and the Time Machine?

DB: I want both readers and listeners to be open to loving one another, because when we take time to love, and when we take time to help others know that they are precious, we give them a flame to shine into the unknown and find their way through fear. Love is that flame. And like a flame, love must be passed from me to you and from you to someone you see in darkness. And I hope you will see that when you share love with those in darkness, love will make them brave. 

JB: How do you see Big Papa and the Time Machine connecting to curriculum?

DB: Authentic stories don’t purposely try to connect to curriculum; however, it’s an extreme honor that you think Big Papa and the Time Machine could. My job as a writer is to be true to the child (even if that child is himself). In the same way, curriculum exists or should exist to help the end-user, who is ultimately the child. So I hope teachers use this story to encourage and celebrate their students’ diverse histories–alongside a good book about the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr!

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

DB: Ha! I think I’ve answered most of these questions twice. I typically can keep talking forever. Wonderful questions! Thanks for this fun interview.

About the Illustrator

Shane W. Evans is the illustrator of several children’s books including Hosea Plays On written by Kathleen M. Blasi (see January blog post), Bintou’s Braids written by Silvianne A. Diouf, and Did I Tell You I Love You Today? written by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan. Evans is the author and illustrator of We March. His honors include the Boston Globe-Horn Book Award and the Orbis Pictus Award for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children.

Book Giveaway!

Subscribers who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a SIGNED copy of Big Papa and the Time Machine, courtesy of the author. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced when the next guide is posted.

And…the winner of a copy of Just Like a Mama by Alice Faye Duncan, illustrated by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow is Linda Balkin. Thank you to Simon & Schuster for kindly providing a copy of the book for this purpose.

News & Updates

Find an extensive Educators’ Guide for Hosea Plays On written by Kathleen M. Blasi and illustrated by Shane W. Evans here. Read an interview with Kathy on my January blog post.

Next month, in honor of the celebration of Poetry Month, I will feature TWO children’s poets and their new poetry collections! Plan to stop by and join us as we celebrate how poems add value and dimension to your learning space!