The Time Sailors

Edward's Grandad is a retired seaman, a curmudgeonly old git who alienates his family and refuses to say 'please' and 'thank you'. This puzzles Edward, as do the mysterious watch and faded photograph he isn't allowed to touch - until the day that Grandad decides 'the time is ripe' for his faithful young visitor to learn about the past by experiencing it. This is both a humorous adventure story about time travel, and an evocation of life by the Thames both now and in the 1910s (an octogenarian friend recognised the references immediately). It's also about the abrasive warmth of family frictions, and how a child might respond to them. In short, it's a rich and fascinating story that will appeal to a wide range of readers.