What do you think?
Rate this book
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine
*2019 READERS FAVORITE BEST SCI-Fi \ FANTASY CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD*
With Timothy Mean’s amazing imagination and time machine, anything and anywhere is possible!
Join Timothy on a magical rhyming adventure as he skips through time and pranks with pirates, gets daring with dragons, and even teases a T-Rex!
“It’s Monday. Hip hip hooray! Where shall we travel in time today?
With Timothy Mean, every day is a rhyme in time!
With Timothy Mean’s amazing imagination and time machine, anything and anywhere is possible!
Join Timothy on a magical rhyming adventure as he skips through time and pranks with pirates, gets daring with dragons, and even teases a T-Rex!
“It’s Monday. Hip hip hooray! Where shall we travel in time today?
With Timothy Mean, every day is a rhyme in time!
24 pages, Paperback
Published January 17, 2019
4 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
About the author
William A.E. Ford
3 books51 followersWilliam has always had a passion for books, writing and story-telling. William’s favourite way to end a cosy evening is to spend time dreaming up and reading bed-time stories to his five wonderful children.
‘Timothy Mean and the Time Machine’ and 'The Cockatoo from Timbuktu' were inspired by the spark of his children’s colourful imaginations as they tirelessly created unique, laughter filled days from even the most mundane, everyday objects and situations!
Born in England, William currently lives in Oslo, Norway with his wife and five children.
‘Timothy Mean and the Time Machine' won Readers Favorite Children's Sci-Fi / Fantasy 2019 Award’
The Cockatoo from Timbuktu is Williams 2nd picture book, released in January 2020.
Timothy Mean 2 is currently in production.
William has been described as an exciting author with his books being in the same calibre as Julia Donaldson.
“If you are a fan of Julia Donaldson, you will love William A.E. Ford’s books. They are of that calibre. They are packed full of a rhyming story, big and bright illustrations that match the stories and with something that children will take away from them – fun and just enough knowledge along the way. These book are fun to interact with at home, in a library or in school or to curl up with at bedtime. However you like to read books, this is an exciting author I highly recommend” Bookmarks & Stages.
‘Timothy Mean and the Time Machine’ and 'The Cockatoo from Timbuktu' were inspired by the spark of his children’s colourful imaginations as they tirelessly created unique, laughter filled days from even the most mundane, everyday objects and situations!
Born in England, William currently lives in Oslo, Norway with his wife and five children.
‘Timothy Mean and the Time Machine' won Readers Favorite Children's Sci-Fi / Fantasy 2019 Award’
The Cockatoo from Timbuktu is Williams 2nd picture book, released in January 2020.
Timothy Mean 2 is currently in production.
William has been described as an exciting author with his books being in the same calibre as Julia Donaldson.
“If you are a fan of Julia Donaldson, you will love William A.E. Ford’s books. They are of that calibre. They are packed full of a rhyming story, big and bright illustrations that match the stories and with something that children will take away from them – fun and just enough knowledge along the way. These book are fun to interact with at home, in a library or in school or to curl up with at bedtime. However you like to read books, this is an exciting author I highly recommend” Bookmarks & Stages.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
April 21, 2019
A big thanks to the author for providing me with a review copy of Timothy Mean and the Time Machine. It is clearly a labour of love, and I can imagine the author telling this story to his children night after night until it came into its present form.
In this book, we follow an imaginative little boy who uses his time machine to visit various points in the past and future. Each two-page spread starts with a repeating rhyme that announces the day of the week, then the other page has a longer rhyme about the place and time being visited. In each time period, Timothy manages to play a prank (sometimes rather nasty!) on the beings he meets there.
I'm not the world's biggest fan of rhyming stories, but I had no problem finding the correct meter for this one, and most of the rhymes themselves work quite well. The illustrations are not in my favourite style, but I do like how much detail there is on each page. There's a lot here to keep kids of varying ages interested.
I do have a couple of little quibbles with the story. As mentioned earlier, some of the pranks Timothy plays are quite rude or mean, and there is never any repercussions for his naughtiness. I also struggled a bit with some of the formatting and unusual punctuation in the verses. I really wished some of the verses were separated a bit to make them easier to read.
That said, I think that many children would find this to be a hilarious story to hear. I know when my nephew was younger, he would have been in fits of giggles about some of the pranks that Timothy plays. Overall, I think this book will be a hit with many children, especially the more mischievous little ones.
3 stars for Timothy Mean and the Time Machine.
In this book, we follow an imaginative little boy who uses his time machine to visit various points in the past and future. Each two-page spread starts with a repeating rhyme that announces the day of the week, then the other page has a longer rhyme about the place and time being visited. In each time period, Timothy manages to play a prank (sometimes rather nasty!) on the beings he meets there.
I'm not the world's biggest fan of rhyming stories, but I had no problem finding the correct meter for this one, and most of the rhymes themselves work quite well. The illustrations are not in my favourite style, but I do like how much detail there is on each page. There's a lot here to keep kids of varying ages interested.
I do have a couple of little quibbles with the story. As mentioned earlier, some of the pranks Timothy plays are quite rude or mean, and there is never any repercussions for his naughtiness. I also struggled a bit with some of the formatting and unusual punctuation in the verses. I really wished some of the verses were separated a bit to make them easier to read.
That said, I think that many children would find this to be a hilarious story to hear. I know when my nephew was younger, he would have been in fits of giggles about some of the pranks that Timothy plays. Overall, I think this book will be a hit with many children, especially the more mischievous little ones.
3 stars for Timothy Mean and the Time Machine.
February 9, 2019
I received a physical copy from the author, in exchange for a honest review!
This was such a fun childrens picture book, following main character Timothy Mean as he builds a time machine and every day, he ventures into a different time period such as 1969 (first man on the moon) and the Viking era. The story was easy to follow, text clear to read and I loved the illustrations. I will be passing on my copy to my second cousin who is 2 and would really enjoy a fun, quick and educational read! Plus, there's dragons in this and that is one of my favourite things to read about.
This was such a fun childrens picture book, following main character Timothy Mean as he builds a time machine and every day, he ventures into a different time period such as 1969 (first man on the moon) and the Viking era. The story was easy to follow, text clear to read and I loved the illustrations. I will be passing on my copy to my second cousin who is 2 and would really enjoy a fun, quick and educational read! Plus, there's dragons in this and that is one of my favourite things to read about.
February 20, 2019
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine is everything a children's book should be. It is bright, beautifully illustrated and lots of fun.
A week in the life of Timothy Mean, it is a story told in rhyme. Every day Timothy goes on a wonderful adventure, using a Time Machine he built with boxes and glue in his basement.
Dragons, Vikings, Pirates and free ice-cream , even Robots make an appearance. Timothy's wonderful imagination works up a storm.
The accompanying pictures are amazing and really capture Timothy's escapades. I have no doubt that every child will enjoy this tale, and be slightly envious of what Timothy gets up to.
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine reminded me very much of Mr Ben, and I think this book would be a fabulous TV show in the same sort of format.
A wonderful imaginative book for children of all ages.
A week in the life of Timothy Mean, it is a story told in rhyme. Every day Timothy goes on a wonderful adventure, using a Time Machine he built with boxes and glue in his basement.
Dragons, Vikings, Pirates and free ice-cream , even Robots make an appearance. Timothy's wonderful imagination works up a storm.
The accompanying pictures are amazing and really capture Timothy's escapades. I have no doubt that every child will enjoy this tale, and be slightly envious of what Timothy gets up to.
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine reminded me very much of Mr Ben, and I think this book would be a fabulous TV show in the same sort of format.
A wonderful imaginative book for children of all ages.
October 9, 2019
Timothy Mean is bored. He's imaginative and wants to find something to do. So, he finds a cardboard box, some glue and crafting supplies and builds a time machine. Every day of the week he uses his time machine to zoom off to a fun place in history. From pulling dinosaur tails to playing pranks on astronauts, there is nothing Timothy Mean can't do with a vivid imagination!
This is such a cute book for young kids! The rhyming story of Timothy Mean and the colorful, fun illustrations would make this a perfect book for beginning readers to read themselves or have read to them. Timothy has some pretty awesome adventures using his time machine. I can see this story being used in an elementary or home school classroom setting for group or supplemental reading, with related art and writing projects. If you could build a time machine and pop back to have some fun, where would you go? What would you do? I imagine a group of kindergartners or first graders could make some pretty awesome time machines, too!
Cute story! Engaging, colorful illustrations! And an adventure for each day of the week! Great book! Full stars from this former home school teacher, Mom and Oma! Fun read!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book by William A. E. Ford. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
This is such a cute book for young kids! The rhyming story of Timothy Mean and the colorful, fun illustrations would make this a perfect book for beginning readers to read themselves or have read to them. Timothy has some pretty awesome adventures using his time machine. I can see this story being used in an elementary or home school classroom setting for group or supplemental reading, with related art and writing projects. If you could build a time machine and pop back to have some fun, where would you go? What would you do? I imagine a group of kindergartners or first graders could make some pretty awesome time machines, too!
Cute story! Engaging, colorful illustrations! And an adventure for each day of the week! Great book! Full stars from this former home school teacher, Mom and Oma! Fun read!
**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book by William A. E. Ford. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
March 30, 2019
First, I want to thank William A.E. Ford for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A.E. Ford was a very creative, adventure fun filled, and sometimes even comical read. Many children and us big kids at heart would really get a kick out of all the places Timothy goes in his time machine.
Marcelo Simonetti blew me away with his incredible illustrations and graphics in this book. Each picture was so incredibly detailed and lifelike. Marcelo is an incredible artist. Children will love these pictures as it will draw them more into the story.
One of my favorite parts of the book was when he goes back in time when his parents were kids at school and plays pranks on them. Thinking like a young kid I would think that would be funny.
There was one formatting issue that I had an issue with. I read this book on my Kindle as I usually do. The graphics were black, white and grey. The lettering was in some instances black and white. Some pages the wording was in white with the background being light grey. Those few pages were a little difficult to read. I am sure the print form does not have this issue.
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A.E. Ford was a very creative, adventure fun filled, and sometimes even comical read. Many children and us big kids at heart would really get a kick out of all the places Timothy goes in his time machine.
Marcelo Simonetti blew me away with his incredible illustrations and graphics in this book. Each picture was so incredibly detailed and lifelike. Marcelo is an incredible artist. Children will love these pictures as it will draw them more into the story.
One of my favorite parts of the book was when he goes back in time when his parents were kids at school and plays pranks on them. Thinking like a young kid I would think that would be funny.
There was one formatting issue that I had an issue with. I read this book on my Kindle as I usually do. The graphics were black, white and grey. The lettering was in some instances black and white. Some pages the wording was in white with the background being light grey. Those few pages were a little difficult to read. I am sure the print form does not have this issue.
October 23, 2019
This was such a fun and whimsical read! I’ve been wanting to try MG for a while now and as my first foray in to the genre, this book did not disappoint. Ford’s lyrical narrative features adventure, time travel and historical events that captured my attention and had me wishing I could time travel too! What really made this an exceptional read were the graphics. They would fit right in with a Pixar movie and quite frankly, I would adore watching this!
Pros:
This story was so adorable! It was full of the curious wonder associated with childhood and brought me back to a simpler time when learning was the purpose of our day.
The imagination of Timothy was endearing. His excitement at historical marvels and events was captivating and I found myself eager to see where he would travel to next.
The really enjoyed reading the couplet rhyming in this story. It’s exactly what I remember reading about these books when I was younger.
I absolutely adored the graphics in this story! They really painted a beautiful picture of the time period Timothy had travelled to. The bold colours completely captured my attention and at times I had to remind myself to read the story first before just staring at them!
Cons:
The writing in this story was occasionally hard to read with the bold colours in the background. I think the story would have had more balance had there been a blank page with black writing on it. It would be simple, easier to follow (especially for the targeted age group) and would create a better balance of white space to the corresponding image.
Arc provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
WINNER OF READERS FAVOURITE SCI-Fi FANTASY CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019.
Pros:
This story was so adorable! It was full of the curious wonder associated with childhood and brought me back to a simpler time when learning was the purpose of our day.
The imagination of Timothy was endearing. His excitement at historical marvels and events was captivating and I found myself eager to see where he would travel to next.
The really enjoyed reading the couplet rhyming in this story. It’s exactly what I remember reading about these books when I was younger.
I absolutely adored the graphics in this story! They really painted a beautiful picture of the time period Timothy had travelled to. The bold colours completely captured my attention and at times I had to remind myself to read the story first before just staring at them!
Cons:
The writing in this story was occasionally hard to read with the bold colours in the background. I think the story would have had more balance had there been a blank page with black writing on it. It would be simple, easier to follow (especially for the targeted age group) and would create a better balance of white space to the corresponding image.
Arc provided by author in exchange for an honest review.
WINNER OF READERS FAVOURITE SCI-Fi FANTASY CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019.
April 17, 2019
Full review post (available from May 22nd, 2019): http://swiftcoffee.blog/2019/05/22/ti...
To be honest, I'm not very fond of this cover, but the illustration inside was way better! That was actually stunning. It was almost even better than the story/verse.
Talking about the story: it's a fun and dynamic story about a mischievous little boy who's got a huge fantasy and his hobby is traveling through times. I have to admit I was not totally convinced by this time travel thing: there were very fantasy elements in the different places he went to (like an actual dragon), so I'd rather say it was a journey on the wings of his own fantasy, and not really time travel. It's implied, I give it that, though. It's probably only a matter of slight confusion because I'm an adult and not the target audience (which would be preschoolers, I think). I'm also not sure if I would be okay with my kid learning the false fact that it's completely possible to pull down an astronaut's "trousers" in space without any serious consequence but embarrassment. I know they're just kids, and it's fantasy. I know many other things (like time travel itself) is not possible. But it just bothered me more than it should've for some reason. Otherwise, I really liked the adventures little Timothy had.
I loved to read the verses, they were just as fun and dynamic as the story itself. I didn't have a kid around me, yet I felt a need to say the text out loud. (Which would look rather silly without a kid, so I resisted the urge...) There were a couple of times when the rhymes stumbled a bit, but it wasn't very bothering.
All in all, this is a fun children's book which I think would be very enjoyable for 4-5 year-olds. I'm sure they'd have fun saying together the rhymes and discovering all the little details in the beautiful pictures.
To be honest, I'm not very fond of this cover, but the illustration inside was way better! That was actually stunning. It was almost even better than the story/verse.
Talking about the story: it's a fun and dynamic story about a mischievous little boy who's got a huge fantasy and his hobby is traveling through times. I have to admit I was not totally convinced by this time travel thing: there were very fantasy elements in the different places he went to (like an actual dragon), so I'd rather say it was a journey on the wings of his own fantasy, and not really time travel. It's implied, I give it that, though. It's probably only a matter of slight confusion because I'm an adult and not the target audience (which would be preschoolers, I think). I'm also not sure if I would be okay with my kid learning the false fact that it's completely possible to pull down an astronaut's "trousers" in space without any serious consequence but embarrassment. I know they're just kids, and it's fantasy. I know many other things (like time travel itself) is not possible. But it just bothered me more than it should've for some reason. Otherwise, I really liked the adventures little Timothy had.
I loved to read the verses, they were just as fun and dynamic as the story itself. I didn't have a kid around me, yet I felt a need to say the text out loud. (Which would look rather silly without a kid, so I resisted the urge...) There were a couple of times when the rhymes stumbled a bit, but it wasn't very bothering.
All in all, this is a fun children's book which I think would be very enjoyable for 4-5 year-olds. I'm sure they'd have fun saying together the rhymes and discovering all the little details in the beautiful pictures.
March 31, 2019
Reading this to my two pre-school girls, I was interested to see what they thought about this book. This was a unique experience for them, seeing as it was their first book they have read "on screen". However, they appeared to enjoy the experience and see the adventures of Timothy Mean.
There are many things that I look for in books that I read to my children. I do like a book with a good rhyme scheme and Ford has got it right in this picture book. However, what would have been better was if the stanzas had been broken up into about four line verses. This helps with reading to children because, as many of you may know, you are constantly being distracted and having to manage other things; keeping the stanzas short helps with parenting and multi-tasking. I also think that, when my girls are old enough, it the breaks in text could assist with learning to read. However, this is just a speculation as my girls have not yet reached this milestone.
The pictures were incredibly detailed in this book and complemented the story being told. I think they were too old for my children and this matched their attention to the story itself. Whilst there are some fantastic historic references, this book would be suited to more Reception/Year 1 children to show the different time periods and assist with learning. As such, my children took this story on a face value about a naughty boy who was very mischievous with his time machine.
Whilst the subject matter was a bit old for pre-schoolers, I was disappointed that Timothy Mean lived too closely to his name. I like stories with a moral or a lesson for children to learn from and in this offering from Ford, Mean is portrayed as being able to escape punishment for all of the chaos he causes. Yes, it can be considered as harmless, innocent fun, but I do worry what subliminal message is being sent out to little readers. I would have been comforted if the main character had not been called 'Mean' and that there were consequences to his actions. Instead, the boy is presented as just having a wild imagination with a sudden ending, not suggesting to readers that it is important to be kind and caring to others.
I think it is this lack of moral message that made this read so disappointing to me. I did change a couple of the words because I did not want my children to parrot these and as I read it to them, I found myself discussing Timothy Mean's character with them and how naughty he was being. This, I think, is a reflection that this book is not intended for young readers and that older children would be able to recognise his actions as mere pranks. However, showing readers a kinder, caring side, even to an older reader, would make this character more appealing.
This was an alright read but it didn't capture my imagination. The time periods were surprising and whilst the pictures were incredibly detailed, this was a little too "dark" in its moral message. An older reader may appreciate it more but, as a parent to young girls, I won't be reading it to them again.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
There are many things that I look for in books that I read to my children. I do like a book with a good rhyme scheme and Ford has got it right in this picture book. However, what would have been better was if the stanzas had been broken up into about four line verses. This helps with reading to children because, as many of you may know, you are constantly being distracted and having to manage other things; keeping the stanzas short helps with parenting and multi-tasking. I also think that, when my girls are old enough, it the breaks in text could assist with learning to read. However, this is just a speculation as my girls have not yet reached this milestone.
The pictures were incredibly detailed in this book and complemented the story being told. I think they were too old for my children and this matched their attention to the story itself. Whilst there are some fantastic historic references, this book would be suited to more Reception/Year 1 children to show the different time periods and assist with learning. As such, my children took this story on a face value about a naughty boy who was very mischievous with his time machine.
Whilst the subject matter was a bit old for pre-schoolers, I was disappointed that Timothy Mean lived too closely to his name. I like stories with a moral or a lesson for children to learn from and in this offering from Ford, Mean is portrayed as being able to escape punishment for all of the chaos he causes. Yes, it can be considered as harmless, innocent fun, but I do worry what subliminal message is being sent out to little readers. I would have been comforted if the main character had not been called 'Mean' and that there were consequences to his actions. Instead, the boy is presented as just having a wild imagination with a sudden ending, not suggesting to readers that it is important to be kind and caring to others.
I think it is this lack of moral message that made this read so disappointing to me. I did change a couple of the words because I did not want my children to parrot these and as I read it to them, I found myself discussing Timothy Mean's character with them and how naughty he was being. This, I think, is a reflection that this book is not intended for young readers and that older children would be able to recognise his actions as mere pranks. However, showing readers a kinder, caring side, even to an older reader, would make this character more appealing.
This was an alright read but it didn't capture my imagination. The time periods were surprising and whilst the pictures were incredibly detailed, this was a little too "dark" in its moral message. An older reader may appreciate it more but, as a parent to young girls, I won't be reading it to them again.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 13, 2019
his children book truly has a very catchy story telling approach that will keep kids jonesing on. This is a perfect bedtime book to any kid below the age of 8 which is not only entertaining but also boosts the kids imaginations. The whole writing is so cute that I read it a couple more times just for the fun of it and I'm 24! The pictures are visually appealing and but I felt that it was slightly advanced for a children's book. However, it is very relevant and to the point.
Timothy Mean is not at all mean but a naughty little boy with an amazing imaginative power. Each day of the week, he travels back in time using the time machine he built with a cardboard. With the press of a red button he visits various past set ups only to end up doing notorious things and returning home quickly.He goes to the moon, to the dinosaur era and so many more and does a little mischief just before heading back home each day and tells his parents about his little adventure and get praised for the same.
This book is an entertaining, amusing and catchy read that beautifully encapsulates the amusement of a kid. It is a great example to teach kids and show them how imagination is a powerful tool. This is an amazing story with a great message and I would like to see kids perform a play on this.
Timothy Mean is not at all mean but a naughty little boy with an amazing imaginative power. Each day of the week, he travels back in time using the time machine he built with a cardboard. With the press of a red button he visits various past set ups only to end up doing notorious things and returning home quickly.He goes to the moon, to the dinosaur era and so many more and does a little mischief just before heading back home each day and tells his parents about his little adventure and get praised for the same.
This book is an entertaining, amusing and catchy read that beautifully encapsulates the amusement of a kid. It is a great example to teach kids and show them how imagination is a powerful tool. This is an amazing story with a great message and I would like to see kids perform a play on this.
September 26, 2019
The book was certainly a display of author's imagination as he plotted his main character Timothy right in the middle of things.
Bored of the same sword, Timothy used his brain to build a time machine. And lo and behold, on each day of the week, he flew to a different land. I loved the way he traveled to varied lands of the dinosaurs, then to the moon, into the future where there were robots, and into the past when his parents were kids. Some of the artwork looked quite attractive.
Then came my niggles
Timothy was quite naughty and some of his acts felt mean. Though all his adventures were in his mind through his active imagination, it felt he needed to know they were still naughty acts. I would not read it to my kids unless I knew that they could understand the difference between right and wrong, reality and imagination. I would caution the parents to read the book first and decide if it is apt for their kids.
The concept was great, the art work colorful, the words rhymed well. So my love for the book would be based on these three points.
Recommended age - 8 years or so
Bored of the same sword, Timothy used his brain to build a time machine. And lo and behold, on each day of the week, he flew to a different land. I loved the way he traveled to varied lands of the dinosaurs, then to the moon, into the future where there were robots, and into the past when his parents were kids. Some of the artwork looked quite attractive.
Then came my niggles
Timothy was quite naughty and some of his acts felt mean. Though all his adventures were in his mind through his active imagination, it felt he needed to know they were still naughty acts. I would not read it to my kids unless I knew that they could understand the difference between right and wrong, reality and imagination. I would caution the parents to read the book first and decide if it is apt for their kids.
The concept was great, the art work colorful, the words rhymed well. So my love for the book would be based on these three points.
Recommended age - 8 years or so
March 19, 2019
This was a fun story about a naughty boy who builds his own time machine. Timothy Mean travels back and forth in time, playing pranks. The illustrations were cute with humorous details. The rhyming made the story more enjoyable for my kids. A great read for young ones!
March 30, 2019
This book wanted me to be a kid again so that I could own it and show it to all my friends. Timothy Mean is a mischievous kid with a lot of imagination Young kids would love to be read to and the illustrations are just too good. I am sure kids of all ages including those kids only at heart like me would love this book. The rhyming lines add a nice touch that ring a nice tone when read aloud. The robot teachers, the flying cars, dinosaurs, parents as kids what a varied story and mischief of Timothy Mean ..is a great spread for kids.
Thank You William for giving me the chance to review this book and become nostalgic.
Thank You William for giving me the chance to review this book and become nostalgic.
February 12, 2019
A rhyming adventure with Timothy Mean as he whizzes through time in his home made machine. The book flows really well for a read aloud story. My children were quickly joining in and shouting out ‘Nobody knows!’
Over the course of a week Timothy travels from the dinosaurs to the future and meets some pirates along the way. Be prepared to read this over and over!
Over the course of a week Timothy travels from the dinosaurs to the future and meets some pirates along the way. Be prepared to read this over and over!
May 9, 2019
My daughter and I liked this book. The rhyming did not always work so well, so reading aloud was a little difficult. It is a fun imaginative story of a boy's journey through time. He isn't always so nice on the journey, like pulling down Neil Armstrong's pants when he landed on the moon. Kids will probably think that is hilarious.
Overall we liked the story. We recommend the book for kids around ages 4-8.
We received a free PDF of this book and we are voluntarily sharing our review.
Jessica D. Adams, Author of The Underground Toy Society
Overall we liked the story. We recommend the book for kids around ages 4-8.
We received a free PDF of this book and we are voluntarily sharing our review.
Jessica D. Adams, Author of The Underground Toy Society
March 18, 2019
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A. E. Ford was a wonderful little children's book. Marcelo Simonetti also created some amazing artwork for the book. The rhymes on just about every line would hold a child's attention and the interesting locations would inspire their imagination. The book is very short, with only about ten pages with text on them. This makes it great to prevent young readers from being intimidated by the size of the book. The book also goes through the days of the week, helping to teach children the names of the days in a fun way.
Being bored one day, a young boy by the name of Timothy Mean decides to build a time machine. He visits Vikings and Pirates on their ships, causing them trouble. He visits his parents while they are children and in school themselves. At one point he even pulls the pants down on am astronaut. No trip in time would be complete without a trip into the future so that is exactly what he does. Timothy also likes playing pranks and being a trouble-maker at each location he visits.
The locations visited and Timothy's pranks open up chances for discussion with parents and slightly older children. Parents could ask their children all kimds of things about the book. They could ask about if their child would want to walk on the moon, or what they think the future will be like. Parents could ask about what their child would do if they were a pirate or maybe what they think life was like in mid-evil times. Almost any children's book that encourages children to think and use their imagination is a good one.
I loved the book. What I liked most was the fun rhymes and locations. If I absolutely had to pick something I did not like it would have to be the few lines that did not rhyme as they almost upset the flow of the passage. Though in all honesty, it is not a big issue and for a children's book wrighters are somewhat limited on their options to insure a child would understand.
Target readers for this book is anyone. As a mother I would feel comfortable reading this book to my children no matter how young. I also feel like this would be a good book for a beginning reader, maybe a page a dag. For even more fun and value, parents could have their new readers read the page that goes with the current week day. Slightly older children and more experienced readers could sit down and read the entire book on their own.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 and plan on getting a physical copy for my own children (I reviewed a digial copy of the book). The book was wonderful and I hope it gains enough popularly that William A. E. Ford creates an entire line of rhymeing Timothy Mean books.
Being bored one day, a young boy by the name of Timothy Mean decides to build a time machine. He visits Vikings and Pirates on their ships, causing them trouble. He visits his parents while they are children and in school themselves. At one point he even pulls the pants down on am astronaut. No trip in time would be complete without a trip into the future so that is exactly what he does. Timothy also likes playing pranks and being a trouble-maker at each location he visits.
The locations visited and Timothy's pranks open up chances for discussion with parents and slightly older children. Parents could ask their children all kimds of things about the book. They could ask about if their child would want to walk on the moon, or what they think the future will be like. Parents could ask about what their child would do if they were a pirate or maybe what they think life was like in mid-evil times. Almost any children's book that encourages children to think and use their imagination is a good one.
I loved the book. What I liked most was the fun rhymes and locations. If I absolutely had to pick something I did not like it would have to be the few lines that did not rhyme as they almost upset the flow of the passage. Though in all honesty, it is not a big issue and for a children's book wrighters are somewhat limited on their options to insure a child would understand.
Target readers for this book is anyone. As a mother I would feel comfortable reading this book to my children no matter how young. I also feel like this would be a good book for a beginning reader, maybe a page a dag. For even more fun and value, parents could have their new readers read the page that goes with the current week day. Slightly older children and more experienced readers could sit down and read the entire book on their own.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 and plan on getting a physical copy for my own children (I reviewed a digial copy of the book). The book was wonderful and I hope it gains enough popularly that William A. E. Ford creates an entire line of rhymeing Timothy Mean books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 6, 2019
This was such a delightful book! As a kid my mother would have a sighed a little when I asked her to read this book because Timothy Mean can be a little troublesome, but that's just what makes this book so fun. Adults get worried about kids getting into trouble but as a kid it just feels like a big adventure.
Timothy's adventures were just the right amount of fun and educational, giving kids pictures of things from history but also encouraging them to think outside the box and be creative. The page with the dragon was a personal favorite of mine because who doesn't love thinking about riding their own pet dragon and scaring people. Is it perhaps the nicest thing to do? No. But is it fun? Absolutely. Which is what I loved so much about this story, Timothy just got to run wild and be creative, something most every kid can relate to.
Overall this book was an ADVENTURE! I had a lot of fun reading it and it made me nostalgic for the old rhyming books I used to read as a child. I'd highly recommend this book children of all ages but I think kids 6+ would get the most enjoyment out of it.
Finally, I would like to thank the author, William A.E. Ford for providing me with a copy of this story to review! If you are interested in learning more about the author and his writing check out his website here.
Timothy's adventures were just the right amount of fun and educational, giving kids pictures of things from history but also encouraging them to think outside the box and be creative. The page with the dragon was a personal favorite of mine because who doesn't love thinking about riding their own pet dragon and scaring people. Is it perhaps the nicest thing to do? No. But is it fun? Absolutely. Which is what I loved so much about this story, Timothy just got to run wild and be creative, something most every kid can relate to.
Overall this book was an ADVENTURE! I had a lot of fun reading it and it made me nostalgic for the old rhyming books I used to read as a child. I'd highly recommend this book children of all ages but I think kids 6+ would get the most enjoyment out of it.
Finally, I would like to thank the author, William A.E. Ford for providing me with a copy of this story to review! If you are interested in learning more about the author and his writing check out his website here.
April 14, 2019
Great art full of charming detailed and imaginative imagery! Perfectly understandable for a 3 year old, and appealing enough that he wanted me to read it again right away. The places visited by Timothy's time machine are great and varied. I took the opportunity to have a conversation with my son about how Timothy's behavior is not nice in most of the situations. He steals from the pirates, teases animals, and is generally naughty in mild ways. My son and I talked about how it is fine to pretend to do naughty things like Timothy does, but actually doing them is altogether different.
I received a review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily without any compensation.
I received a review copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily without any compensation.
October 4, 2019
I haven’t reviewed any children’s books since the beginning of the year but when the author of this book asked me if I can review it, I decided to get some help, from no other than my kids. We read Timothy Mean before bedtime and they were thrilled to have read this story. The wording was made into a rhyming theme and it was easy for my boys to understand it.
The illustrations were spot on. Bold colors and thrilling pictures of each adventure. I think my boys were mesmerized with the pictures and kept flipping the pages back and forth and describing me what was happening to Timothy Mean. I asked them if they like the book and obviously they said yes. This book was a great way to see how Imagination works and it’s nice to see that it helps them remember the days of the week. I give it a four. However, my boys decided to give it another star so it automatically became a five star review. Kids know best lol. It’s a pretty smooth pace book for a child who is getting the hang of reading and it’s not overwhelming as it looks. Rhyming makes things go smoother and faster.
The illustrations were spot on. Bold colors and thrilling pictures of each adventure. I think my boys were mesmerized with the pictures and kept flipping the pages back and forth and describing me what was happening to Timothy Mean. I asked them if they like the book and obviously they said yes. This book was a great way to see how Imagination works and it’s nice to see that it helps them remember the days of the week. I give it a four. However, my boys decided to give it another star so it automatically became a five star review. Kids know best lol. It’s a pretty smooth pace book for a child who is getting the hang of reading and it’s not overwhelming as it looks. Rhyming makes things go smoother and faster.
April 11, 2019
I received a complimentary copy.
Super cute mini adventures for young readers. I really enjoy that you can read this either one page a day of the week or all at once and it makes a great sleepy time book. I like that you can read this outloud but also share the very creative illustrations inside. While younger kids will really enjoy the rhyming, any age can snuggle down and get lost in a few short moments of fun.
Super cute mini adventures for young readers. I really enjoy that you can read this either one page a day of the week or all at once and it makes a great sleepy time book. I like that you can read this outloud but also share the very creative illustrations inside. While younger kids will really enjoy the rhyming, any age can snuggle down and get lost in a few short moments of fun.
March 17, 2019
Timothy Mean is a mischievous, yet fun little boy. He builds a time machine using "found" items and embarks on a new adventure daily ranging from dinosaurs to "teacher" robots. The author has taken a unique path with Timothy showcasing the playful and somewhat "not so innocent" side, we all possess, very refreshing and works really well. The illustrations are detailed, vivid and creative. I applaud the author William A. E. Ford and Illustrator Marcelo Simonetti.
As an author myself, I appreciate the time and care to write and illustrate "Timothy Mean and the Time Machine."
Highly recommended by Chloe and James Smoot
Chloe approved!
As an author myself, I appreciate the time and care to write and illustrate "Timothy Mean and the Time Machine."
Highly recommended by Chloe and James Smoot
Chloe approved!
March 7, 2019
I highly recommend Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by the lovely William AE Ford. I was lucky enough to be sent an e-copy by author William and my son enjoyed it so much not only did I want to write a review but I’ve just bought 2 paperback copies – one for the house and one for my 4 year old’s nursery!
The mischievous Timothy Mean is the main character and is a bit bored one day so he builds a time machine out of carboard and glue. He then travels in time and causes mayhem with his pranks! He visits, dinosaurs, Vikings, space, the future and even sneaks in to the classroom when his parents were children. My son LOVED pretending to press an imaginary button on the sofa to make the time machine go and did this so vigorously and with so much enthusiasm I thought the button might break and we’d get stuck in the future with the teacher robots! We loved the rhyming rhythm as the book took us to a variety of places on different the days of the week and the pictures by Marcelo Simonetti are STUNNING!!! This book is brilliant for sparking children’s (and adults’!) imaginations and instigated A LOT of questions from my son. “What do dinosaurs eat? Why do the pirates have swords? Where are the teachers? What do robots eat? What is the dragon doing? What is the moon made of...etc etc etc”
The mischievous Timothy Mean is the main character and is a bit bored one day so he builds a time machine out of carboard and glue. He then travels in time and causes mayhem with his pranks! He visits, dinosaurs, Vikings, space, the future and even sneaks in to the classroom when his parents were children. My son LOVED pretending to press an imaginary button on the sofa to make the time machine go and did this so vigorously and with so much enthusiasm I thought the button might break and we’d get stuck in the future with the teacher robots! We loved the rhyming rhythm as the book took us to a variety of places on different the days of the week and the pictures by Marcelo Simonetti are STUNNING!!! This book is brilliant for sparking children’s (and adults’!) imaginations and instigated A LOT of questions from my son. “What do dinosaurs eat? Why do the pirates have swords? Where are the teachers? What do robots eat? What is the dragon doing? What is the moon made of...etc etc etc”
March 23, 2019
Fun children's picture book written as poetry. Really liked the illustrations. Recommended for both parents and children who love to read time-travel adventure books.
September 27, 2019
Timothy is a bit of a rascal, he’s bored so in his imagination he builds a time machine and has a marvellous adventure every day of the week.
This is a simple rhyming story with an easy cadence and children will love its humour and the pranks he pulls.
I’ve seen some reviews that feel there should be repercussions for Timothy’s behaviour and Yes they could be seen as naughty but his name is Timothy MEAN….so children will be able to make the link…..or the adult could ! And have a chat after the story..
I found this to be absolutely charming, it’s fun and the illustrations are so bright and full of details….I’ll certainly be getting a hard copy for my granddaughter.
Thank you to The Author for a free copy of Timothy Mean and The Time Machine. This is my honest and unbiased review.
This is a simple rhyming story with an easy cadence and children will love its humour and the pranks he pulls.
I’ve seen some reviews that feel there should be repercussions for Timothy’s behaviour and Yes they could be seen as naughty but his name is Timothy MEAN….so children will be able to make the link…..or the adult could ! And have a chat after the story..
I found this to be absolutely charming, it’s fun and the illustrations are so bright and full of details….I’ll certainly be getting a hard copy for my granddaughter.
Thank you to The Author for a free copy of Timothy Mean and The Time Machine. This is my honest and unbiased review.
June 27, 2019
Timothy has a big imagination and a week of time to travel it! With his time machine he'll go everywhere, from the time of the dinosaurs to the far future with flying cars and robots. Travel with him on his journey as he takes a look at different locales in his trusty Time Machine.
Thank you to William Ford for providing me with a copy of his book for review.
What I Enjoyed
Timothy was a curious, inventive child that built his time machine out of scrap parts in his basement. His crafting skills seem to be on point.
There was a range of historical points of reference that Timothy visited. From the age of dinosaurs to a futuristic time period where robots are teachers, including his own parents' childhoods and the 1969 lunar moon landing, his went to a lot of places over the course of a week.
What I Didn't Enjoy
Some of the rhyme schemes didn't seem to work too well, thus interrupting the flow of the story (fun/mum for example). There were multiple grammatical choices that fell into this as well and made the flow of the words awkward. If one is reading this aloud, it's going to sounds strange or at the very least not match what's on the page.
Timothy Mean feels like an illustrated chapter book that's trying to cram itself into a picture book format. The chunks of text on each page feel like too much for the format.
Artwise, I thought that the cover was a bit off putting because it seemed like clip art as opposed to the art style found within, which did improve and reminded me of an almost creepy Dave McKean aesthetic.
Whether Timothy actually used a time machine or this was all in his imagination, the actions taken throughout the book are very telling of his personality. I understand his name is quite literally Mean, but he doesn't really have or get a redeeming quality by the end. There are multiple examples of "naughty" behavior, but by the end his parents quite literally say he has a playful mind and it's left at that.
To Sum It Up
Timothy certainly lived up to his name during the course of this book. He doesn't interact with anyone else in this book that can be said for sure to be a real person, with the exception of his family on the final page. I'm not sure whether he'd be like this with other people (i.e. the behavior that makes him live up to his name). Is he a bully? Is he a lonely child? Both? There's a lot of layers to this story that I don't think really get answered which is, in part, because I think this is feels more like a story that isn't quite right as a picture book (see my point under Things I Didn't Enjoy).
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine is a decently illustrated, if overly dark (color wise), decently written book that doesn't quite connect as a picture book. I don't think it works as a read aloud experience, but maybe as a teaching experience for how not to act as a mean person.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to William Ford for providing me with a copy of his book for review.
What I Enjoyed
Timothy was a curious, inventive child that built his time machine out of scrap parts in his basement. His crafting skills seem to be on point.
There was a range of historical points of reference that Timothy visited. From the age of dinosaurs to a futuristic time period where robots are teachers, including his own parents' childhoods and the 1969 lunar moon landing, his went to a lot of places over the course of a week.
What I Didn't Enjoy
Some of the rhyme schemes didn't seem to work too well, thus interrupting the flow of the story (fun/mum for example). There were multiple grammatical choices that fell into this as well and made the flow of the words awkward. If one is reading this aloud, it's going to sounds strange or at the very least not match what's on the page.
Timothy Mean feels like an illustrated chapter book that's trying to cram itself into a picture book format. The chunks of text on each page feel like too much for the format.
Artwise, I thought that the cover was a bit off putting because it seemed like clip art as opposed to the art style found within, which did improve and reminded me of an almost creepy Dave McKean aesthetic.
Whether Timothy actually used a time machine or this was all in his imagination, the actions taken throughout the book are very telling of his personality. I understand his name is quite literally Mean, but he doesn't really have or get a redeeming quality by the end. There are multiple examples of "naughty" behavior, but by the end his parents quite literally say he has a playful mind and it's left at that.
To Sum It Up
Timothy certainly lived up to his name during the course of this book. He doesn't interact with anyone else in this book that can be said for sure to be a real person, with the exception of his family on the final page. I'm not sure whether he'd be like this with other people (i.e. the behavior that makes him live up to his name). Is he a bully? Is he a lonely child? Both? There's a lot of layers to this story that I don't think really get answered which is, in part, because I think this is feels more like a story that isn't quite right as a picture book (see my point under Things I Didn't Enjoy).
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine is a decently illustrated, if overly dark (color wise), decently written book that doesn't quite connect as a picture book. I don't think it works as a read aloud experience, but maybe as a teaching experience for how not to act as a mean person.
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2019
Beautiful!
It was free so I had to give it a try. 😁 So glad I did. A kid's adventures through time? With bright happy art? Sign me up please! 😁
This was gorgeous and fun. So much imagination!
Not exactly realistic, you know, since I'm pretty sure if you opened a astronaut's suit they would die. But that's just the Adult in me trying to point out facts while the rest of me is having fun. :)
I loved the future scenes & the dragon!
The rhymes were cute and catchy. And the artwork in the story was absolutely gorgeous. I LOVED it! :) So bright and colorful, with such attention to detail!
This would be a wonderful book to share with a child. Highly recommended!!! 😁 I wanna play time travel too!
It was free so I had to give it a try. 😁 So glad I did. A kid's adventures through time? With bright happy art? Sign me up please! 😁
This was gorgeous and fun. So much imagination!
Not exactly realistic, you know, since I'm pretty sure if you opened a astronaut's suit they would die. But that's just the Adult in me trying to point out facts while the rest of me is having fun. :)
I loved the future scenes & the dragon!
The rhymes were cute and catchy. And the artwork in the story was absolutely gorgeous. I LOVED it! :) So bright and colorful, with such attention to detail!
This would be a wonderful book to share with a child. Highly recommended!!! 😁 I wanna play time travel too!
February 1, 2019
Highly recommend - the book was hilarious! I really loved the rhymes and the illustrations were creatively done.The dinosaur part was my favorite! I cannot wait to share this fun story with my two little nephews.
February 3, 2019
Awesome book.. I want to give more than 5 stars. Writer did Wonderful job.
Timothy is a character who is living in an imaginary world. Adorable kid having great fun.
All week days he traveled different places. Moreover his cuteness is much more than his traveling.
Timothy is a character who is living in an imaginary world. Adorable kid having great fun.
All week days he traveled different places. Moreover his cuteness is much more than his traveling.
January 29, 2019
William Ford creates an exciting imaginative world in Timothy Mean and the Time Machine, and the illustrations bring it alive wonderfully.
June 20, 2019
Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A.E. Ford, featuring illustrations by Marcel Simonetti tells the story of young Timothy Mean who, while tinkering in his family basement, is able to miraculously create a time machine using nothing but old boxes and childlike ingenuity. Powered by either childhood whimsy, or perhaps the personification of pure evil, little Timothy travels back to landmarks in earth’s timeline from prehistoric to futuristic...and is a complete rapscallion at every turn! The writing is in a casual yet consistent rhyming scheme with a repeating introduction to each time period that Timothy warps into. The little troublemaker is up to no good wherever in history he happens to appear, and his mischievous accomplishments (such as pantsing Neil Armstrong during the moon landing) are expressed with no remorse or apology. Timothy won't be learning any lessons, which is just how things should be when we explore the mind of someone at this age.
The writing is enjoyable, but the illustrations are absolutely brilliant. Each time traveling scenario leaps off the page thanks to the detailed and vibrant artistic renditions. It may all be the imagination of a young boy, but the depth of life portrayed here means Timothy has a bright future so long as he can stop being a little such and such.
Most books here at the TehBen Book Club are consumed solo, silently read to analyze and promote as we best see fit. However for this iteration, we felt it best to get a first hand account from the story telling prospective. As Ben has a child in the appropriate age range, let's give him a go:
"The best part was the dragons! But it needs some trains in the story!" -Shane, 4
This was the critical response from my four year old when I read this vibrant story aloud to him. I think he mistakenly grouped the dinosaur as a member of the "dragon" species, so he was confused as to why there weren't more of them. From my parental point of view, I can appreciate the nods to 80's favorites Explorers and Back To The Future, so I found this book to be just as enjoyable as he did. I just don't know why this Timothy kid holds such a deep seated grudge against everybody in history: past, present and future. --Shane's Dad
Verdict: Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A.E. Ford is a beautiful children's book in several different ways. The writing style is minimalist, but charming in its tone and feel. The illustrations are captivating, bold, and will please readers of every age group. This is a book to be enjoyed with a child with a comparative imagination, or even with an old friend or loved one to re-live a more creative and carefree existence. This is all well and good, but if you've got a young child with a penchant time travel...remember to teach the little one some manners.
Special Thanks to William A.E. Ford for providing a review copy of Timothy Mean and the Time Machine to TehBen.com for review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
The writing is enjoyable, but the illustrations are absolutely brilliant. Each time traveling scenario leaps off the page thanks to the detailed and vibrant artistic renditions. It may all be the imagination of a young boy, but the depth of life portrayed here means Timothy has a bright future so long as he can stop being a little such and such.
Most books here at the TehBen Book Club are consumed solo, silently read to analyze and promote as we best see fit. However for this iteration, we felt it best to get a first hand account from the story telling prospective. As Ben has a child in the appropriate age range, let's give him a go:
"The best part was the dragons! But it needs some trains in the story!" -Shane, 4
This was the critical response from my four year old when I read this vibrant story aloud to him. I think he mistakenly grouped the dinosaur as a member of the "dragon" species, so he was confused as to why there weren't more of them. From my parental point of view, I can appreciate the nods to 80's favorites Explorers and Back To The Future, so I found this book to be just as enjoyable as he did. I just don't know why this Timothy kid holds such a deep seated grudge against everybody in history: past, present and future. --Shane's Dad
Verdict: Timothy Mean and the Time Machine by William A.E. Ford is a beautiful children's book in several different ways. The writing style is minimalist, but charming in its tone and feel. The illustrations are captivating, bold, and will please readers of every age group. This is a book to be enjoyed with a child with a comparative imagination, or even with an old friend or loved one to re-live a more creative and carefree existence. This is all well and good, but if you've got a young child with a penchant time travel...remember to teach the little one some manners.
Special Thanks to William A.E. Ford for providing a review copy of Timothy Mean and the Time Machine to TehBen.com for review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.
October 3, 2019
When the author contacted me to read and review his wonderful book I was intrigued by the concept. My own children are 24 and 25 and at the moment are some way from providing me with grandchildren. However my niece has a three year old firecracker of a daughter and I fully intend on purchasing a copy of this book for her, given that I have firmly become the Great Aunt who always buys her books!
The concept of a rhyming book works perfectly in this situation. Children enjoy rhyming books, and the rhyming in Timothy Mean and the Time Machine is charming. Timothy Mean is a mischievous little boy, and although some of his adventures include him being very naughty, I think this could be used as a teaching experience about the difference between right and wrong.
The story reminded me of Mr Benn, whose books and tv show were an important part of my childhood. Can you believe they only made 13 episodes of the tv show? In Mr Benn, he would go into the changing room of a fancy dress shop, try on an outfit and go through a door into a world where he would have an adventure. In comparison, in Timothy Mean and the Time Machine, Timothy would push a button on his time machine each day and go on a big adventure. Each of his journeys would find him in a situation where he had the opportunity to do something funny (and naughty), and ending with his return home to tell his Mummy and Daddy about his adventure.
I think this book is delightful, and I can imagine it would be a giggle-fest for children of varied ages. My son would have loved this when he was little, and I am sure my great-niece will enjoy it when she receives it for Christmas this year!
The concept of a rhyming book works perfectly in this situation. Children enjoy rhyming books, and the rhyming in Timothy Mean and the Time Machine is charming. Timothy Mean is a mischievous little boy, and although some of his adventures include him being very naughty, I think this could be used as a teaching experience about the difference between right and wrong.
The story reminded me of Mr Benn, whose books and tv show were an important part of my childhood. Can you believe they only made 13 episodes of the tv show? In Mr Benn, he would go into the changing room of a fancy dress shop, try on an outfit and go through a door into a world where he would have an adventure. In comparison, in Timothy Mean and the Time Machine, Timothy would push a button on his time machine each day and go on a big adventure. Each of his journeys would find him in a situation where he had the opportunity to do something funny (and naughty), and ending with his return home to tell his Mummy and Daddy about his adventure.
I think this book is delightful, and I can imagine it would be a giggle-fest for children of varied ages. My son would have loved this when he was little, and I am sure my great-niece will enjoy it when she receives it for Christmas this year!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews