Time of Wonder
By Robert McCloskey
The Story
Two children spend a summer on a rocky Maine island, watching rain, fog, and sailing days pass by — until a sudden hurricane sweeps through before the family packs up to leave.
Why It's Special
For the family whose best vacation memories are made of weather, tide charts, and salt air, this is the book that captures why a place gets under your skin.
- Big idea: Time moves in seasons and tides, not schedules — and paying attention to a place is its own kind of love.
- Vibes: Quiet, atmospheric, and rhythmic, with a jolt of real drama in the middle.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy stories about nature and the outdoors
- respond well to slow, observational pacing
- are curious about weather and how it changes a day
- like to talk about real places they've visited
Ask Your Little Reader
- Real-life connection: Have you ever spent a whole summer in one special place? What did it feel like?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think the children felt when the hurricane came?
- Imagination: What sounds do you think you'd hear on a foggy morning by the sea?
- Story & noticing: What are some of the things that change from morning to night on the island?
- Real-life connection: What's something you love to watch happen slowly, like the tide or the rain?
