Stone Age Boy

A short review of Stone Age Boy by Satoshi Kitamura.

I consider this a classic children’s picture book, and one of our favourites.

When a boy falls down a hole he finds himself transported back in time to the Stone Age, sometime in the Upper Palaeolithic, where a new friend introduces him to her everyday life.

This is a well written and beautifully illustrated and unusual in bringing historical fiction to younger children, in a way that emphasises our shared humanity.

Kitamura’s evocative illustration style bring this culture vividly to life, showing how Palaeolithic people in North-Western Europe made tools, hunted, and cooked. A particularly nice touch is the beautiful pictures of animals on the inside covers.

Whilst the simple text and story make it suitable for reading to younger children the detail in the central spread make it a valuable introduction and discussion point for older children.

Buy online at https://uk.bookshop.org/a/12513/9781406312195 and support independent bookshops.