Stone Age Boy
on Goodreads (405)
What’s inside...
Step back 15,000 years as a modern boy enters a Stone Age village and learns a few prehistoric tricks of the trade. One day a boy falls down a hole, and an amazing thing happens — when he wakes, he’s in a camp full of people wearing animal skins! Mixing flight of fancy with prehistoric facts, Satoshi Kitamura ushers us back to a time of surprising innovation and artistic expression, shown in cave paintings visible to this day. Travel 20,000 years into the past and discover what life as a caveman was like in this prehistoric picture book by Kitamura. The endpapers are covered in cave painting-style illustrations of prehistoric animals, and the book also includes a timeline, index and endnote from the author, useful for further study.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
4-8
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What do you think life was like for the boy when he traveled back to the Stone Age?
How did the friendship between the boy and the girl from the Stone Age change the way they saw the world?
What are some of the biggest challenges you think the boy faced in the Stone Age? How did he overcome them?
If you could take anything from our modern world to the Stone Age, what would it be and why?
What did the boy learn from his adventure in the Stone Age that he could use in his own time?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the Stone Age, asking them how they would adapt to life then. Compare and contrast everyday items and activities to foster an understanding of historical differences. Use the book’s illustrations to help spark discussion about the environment and lifestyle. Lastly, emphasize the themes of friendship and learning from others, asking your child how they can apply these lessons in their own lives.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Curiosity and exploration
Explanation: In 'Stone Age Boy', the protagonist unexpectedly travels back in time to the Stone Age, where his curiosity about the new world around him leads to a series of intriguing discoveries.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to ask questions and explore unfamiliar topics or environments, enhancing their learning and adaptability.
Example Lesson: Valuing friendships
Explanation: Throughout the book, the boy develops a deep bond with a Stone Age girl, which is depicted through their sharing, communicating, and collaborating on various tasks.
Real-World Application: Teaches children the importance of building and maintaining friendships, showing empathy, and working together towards common goals.
Example Lesson: Learning from history
Explanation: The boy’s adventures give him a direct, immersive experience of Stone Age life, customs, and survival skills, making history tangible and engaging.
Real-World Application: Inspires children to appreciate and learn from history, understanding how past cultures and heritages shape the present.
Example Lesson: Resilience in unfamiliar situations
Explanation: Faced with the initial shock of being in a new time period, the boy quickly adapts and learns how to integrate with the Stone Age community.
Real-World Application: Helps children understand the importance of adapting to change and finding their place in new environments, fostering independence and confidence.
Example Lesson: Sharing knowledge
Explanation: At the end of his journey, the boy returns to his time with valuable knowledge about the Stone Age, which he shares in his own world.
Real-World Application: Encourages children to share their own experiences and knowledge with others, reinforcing the value of communication and education.