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Rhymes Through Time

A multi-artwork installation, bringing to life the Rooms Through Time for younger visitors, created by children's poet Valerie Bloom MBE and illustrator-as-historian Kremena Dimitrova.

Throughout the Rooms Through Time | Free entry

Listen to the poems

Rhymes Through Time explores the role of children in the home throughout history through a combination of poetry and interactive design. Listen to them below, introduced and read by poet Valerie Bloom.

Played the games?

Check your answers here!

The Dinner | Spot the difference answers

Spot the difference in The Dinner

Here are the modern day changes you may have spotted on the right hand artwork

  • Head of the table is a woman
  • The boy in grey has changed to Gus
  • The stool is now a chair
  • Mobile phone
  • Takeaway drink
  • Burger
  • The spoon is now a fork
  • Bottle of cola
  • The woman has a moustache
  • The boy in blue is wearing red lipstick 

What has happened to Gus? | Maze game answers

Maze game for What has happened to Gus?

All paths lead to a different future for Gus (anti-clockwise from top left)

  • Gus running away from slavery to freedom
  • Gus has studied at university and is reading a book by Leonardo Da Vinci
  • Gus has become a famous musician and is performing on stage
  • Gus and his friend meet up when they are older. Together they campaign for the abolition of slavery.
  • Gus has become a wealthy gentleman and is practising his fencing.
  • Gus is sailing away from Britain. Where do you think he is going?

 

Neat | Code game answers

Code game answers for Neat

  • SCRUFFY HAIR
  • SLOUCHING
  • UNFASHIONABLE CLOTHES
  • GOSSIPING

What Ladies Do | Matching pairs answers

Matching pairs answers for What Ladies Do

  • The only role that has not changed much since 1800 is a mother looking after her baby
  • The woman serving tea is now playing professional football (inspired by Casey Stoney)
  • The girl being laced into a corset to give her a fashionable figure is replaced with a musician performing on stage in a leotard and singing about body positivity (inspired by Lizzo)
  • The woman reading in private is replaced by a woman who has been to university and inspired the world (inspired by Michelle Obama)
  • The woman with pink cheeks who is sitting and smiling serenely is replaced by a young woman speaking out about issues that matter and inspiring people all over the world to campaign against climate change (inspired by Greta Thunberg)

Commissioned by the Museum of the Home, the Rhymes Through Time were created by poet Valerie Bloom MBE and illustrator Kremena Dimitrova.

Rooms; The Dinner; What Has Happened to Gus; Neat; What Ladies Do © 2020/2021 Valerie Bloom

Meet the makers

Q&A - Valerie

Valerie Bloom told us about how she uses cooking and plants to make her house a home

Q&A - Kremena

We spoke to Kremena Dimitrova about the sights, smells and sounds that make her feel at home