Railway Trains
Do you remember The Little Engine that Could? That phrase "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..." has certainly been imprinted on my brain and I have even sometimes said it aloud to encourage myself to get on with a task, especially one that seems too difficult. The author of these words, Watty Piper, and the illustrator of the newly issued version of the book, Loren Long (www.lorenlong.com), will keep the story alive for future generations. Our reviewer raved about the new version and it has already garnered a couple of starred reviews.
Another very famous train engine is Thomas the Tank Engine who has been around for sixty years and has spawned lots of stories and is known in more than 100 countries. For more information about the world of Thomas and his engine friends visit www.hitentertainment.com/thomasandfriends/. Perhaps one of the most famous trains is The Polar Express. Chris Van Allsburg's book has been a perennial best seller and is now a major movie. While it is a story that has special appeal at Christmas time, kids seem to enjoy this story at any time. For an interesting look at the movie version which had significant input from the author visit polarexpressmovie.warnerbros.com/ and for our most recent interview with the author visit www.childrenslit.com/mai_vanallsburg_chris.html.
In addition to these imaginary stories about trains, the real story of the invention of train engines and the growth of train travel is fascinating. An excellent history can be found at http://www.trinity.wa.edu.au/plduffyrc/subjects/dt/inventions/trains.htm where the following was excerpted from an article by Mary Bellis.
"Roads of rails called Wagonways were being used in Germany as early as 1550. These primitive railed roads consisted of wooden rails over which horse-drawn wagons or carts moved with greater ease than over dirt roads. Wagonways were the beginnings of modern railroads."
By 1776, iron had replaced the wood in the rails and wheels on the carts. Wagonways evolved into Tramways and spread though out Europe. Horses still provided all the pulling power. In 1789, Englishman, William Jessup designed the first wagons with flanged wheels. The flange was a groove that allowed the wheels to better grip the rail, this was an important design that carried over to later locomotives.
Colonel John Stevens is considered to be the father of American railroads. In 1826 Stevens demonstrated the feasibility of steam locomotion on a circular experimental track constructed on his estate in Hoboken, New Jersey, three years before George Stephenson perfected a practical steam locomotive in England. The first railroad charter in North America was granted to John Stevens in 1815. Grants to others followed, and work soon began on the first operational railroads.
"In the 1960s and early 1970s, considerable interest developed in the possibility of building tracked passenger vehicles that could travel much faster than conventional trains. From the 1970s, interest in an alternative high-speed technology centered on magnetic levitation, or maglev. This vehicle rides on an air cushion created by electromagnetic reaction between an on-board device and another embedded in its guideway."
For more about the history of trains and those involved enjoy the selection of books noted below.
Reviews
All Aboard the Dinotrain
Deb Lund
Illustrated by Howard Fine
Larger than life dinosaurs in this large format picture book evoke a sense of adventure on every page. Join six friendly-looking dinosaurs as they take off for a roller coaster ride through a dinotunnel, over a hill and over a bridge--and see where they end up. Do they make it to their destination? Reminiscent of plastic or wax models of dinosaurs, both boys and girls will enjoy the antics and bright colors against the natural hued backgrounds. Fine's illustrations present a unique perspective, showing unconventional angles--even underwater that are worthy of a longer look, and the book is certainly appropriate to use in art classes. Creativity seems to be at the forefront of the vocabulary in this work. Words such as 'dinofreight' 'dinotime,' 'dinoduck'--you get the idea--are sprinkled generously throughout the book. Perhaps a follow-up activity would be to build other terms that aren't in the dictionary, as an exercise in creativity, not language! The dinoparents await the return of their youngsters--reminding us of their unconditional love, no matter what 'adventures' have happened, or will happen to us. 2006, Harcourt, $16.00. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewer: Elizabeth Young (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
The Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007; Bank Street College of Education; United States
ISBN: 0-15-205237-2
ISBN: 978-0-15-205237-9
And the Train Goes--
William Bee
Our trip begins at the station, "all noisy and full." The clock ticks, the station master urges all aboard, the whistle blows, the fireman shovels coal, and we feel the pace quicken as the train chuffs and puffs. The track goes from page to page across the bottom. Each double page introduces another group of passengers on their way somewhere, vocalizing their concerns as the train goes "clickerty-click, clickerty-clack." The repeated sounds throughout make this an amusing read-aloud. The train station, however, is quiet and empty now, except for the station parrot, whose shouts fill a page with comments, some repeats of those of others, and some distinctly his own. There is no "story" here as such, only the chance to depict a wide variety of passengers and an equal number of ornate train coaches. Pen-and-ink lines depict the passengers in great detail, along with the rail carriages and the station. A computer is used to supply the flat areas of color introduced at the beginning on the rather comic characters. The most inventive coach is the coal car, with its ingenious conveyor belt delivery system. A trip back to the old days of rail travel. 2007, Candlewick Press, $15.99. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Best Books:
Kirkus Book Review Stars, April 1, 2007; United States
ISBN: 978-0-7636-3248-9
ISBN: 0-7636-3248-1
The Building of the Transcontinental Railroad
Nathan Olson
Illustrated by Rickard Dominquez and Charles Barnett III
A man named Judah had a dream of building a railroad reaching from the West coast to the East coast. He tackled many obstacles and when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Pacific Railroad Act of 1862 into law, he realized that his dream was going to come true. Unfortunately, Judah died before the railroad became a reality. This book is written in graphic format that is a favorite of mine. The graphic format is perfect for students who are reluctant readers and never seem to finish a book on their own. Young adults who want to read anything they can get their hands on will also enjoy the graphics and fast paced text. The full-color graphics make an enormous impact on the story. The author includes a box on most pages with narration giving extra information to the reader to help with comprehension. Vocabulary has been well-selected. This book is an excellent resource that could be used for writing a summary, a book report, or as a source for research. At the end of the book the author includes two pages with more information about the Transcontinental Railroad. I honestly did not know that Chinese laborers had to pull three locomotives and forty train cars for fifteen miles during a blizzard. The author includes a "Glossary" with a pronunciation guide and a list of other books and web sites that might be of interest to the reader. I highly recommend this book that is part of the "Graphic Library" series. 2007, Capstone Press, $25.26. Ages 9 to 14. Reviewer: Kathie M. Josephs (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7368-6490-3
ISBN: 0-7368-7525-5
ISBN: 978-0-7368-6490-9
ISBN: 978-0-7368-7525-7
The Goodnight Train
June Sobel
Illustrated by Laura Huliska-Beith
A lovely picture book rich with color, rhyme, and sound words, this one will be a hit for parents and kids as a bedtime read. The Goodnight Train rolls through the countryside, counting down to bedtime, encountering dreamlike characters and images along the way. The rhythms gently slow down as the train reaches the station, lulling little ones to sleep. Parents everywhere will be thrilled to have a fun, fresh alternative to reading the classic Goodnight Moon, yet again. 2006, Harcourt Books, $16.00. Ages 3 to 7. Reviewer: Ginjer L. Clarke (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-15-205436-7
ISBN: 978-0-15-205436-6
I Drive a Freight Train
Sarah Bridges
Illustrated by Amy Bailey Muehlenhardt
Marcia and Lou introduce the reader to the workings of a freight train. The inclusion of Marcia as the engineer presents women in a non-traditional role. Marcia introduces her conductor who is "in charge of the whole train." This seems to be a bow to old stereotypes but is still preferable to not showing a woman in this career at all. Marcia goes through the safety issues with the train and what kinds of things a freight train carries. Small inset boxes reinforce and expand the knowledge presented in previous pages. One such box explains the types of cars in a freight train based on what kinds of things they can carry. The primary lettering typestyle and the use of color to highlight the machine and the driver against the grays and browns of the surrounding environment draws the child's eyes to the important details of the story. The inclusion of different genders in non-traditional roles adds to the quality of this series. Helpful pages at the back of the book include a diagram of a freight train, a glossary, fun facts, web resources, a brief bibliography, and an index. The front and end flaps have tire tracks running top to bottom to add to the attraction of this "working" title. This is part of the "Working Wheels" series, which currently includes 30 titles. Series titles are included in the help pages. This is an excellent early career book for elementary collections. 2006, Picture Window Books, $16.95. Ages 6 to 8. Reviewer: Joyce Rice (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-4048-1607-0
ISBN: 978-1-4048-1607-7
I Love Trains!
Philemon Sturges
Illustrated by Shari Halpern
Any youngster who loves trains will be spellbound as they take a journey through the pages of this whimsical board book. Easy-to-read text and rhymes engage readers, who are introduced to the purpose and functions of a train. "Some cars keep things from the rain / Some cars carry truck or grain, or cows, or hogs, or gas or logs." Readers will observe that different shapes and sizes of train cars determine their use. The eye-popping colors of Halpern's illustrations are a delight. Front and back pages include brilliantly colored drawings of many different types of railroad cars not mentioned in the text. One that is included is the tender car, which is pulled behind a steam engine to carry extra water. This book is a great pick for homes with toddlers or in nursery schools. The pages are a feast for young eyes. 2006 (orig. 2001), HarperCollins, $6.99. Ages 1 to 4. Reviewer: Sue Reichard (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-0-06-083774-7
ISBN: 0-06-083774-8
I Saw an Ant on the Railroad Track
Joshua Prince
Illustrated by Macky Pamintuan
Joshua Prince's first book is the tongue-in-cheek account of switchman Jack's valiant efforts to save the life of an ant in search of a snack strolling the wrong way on a railroad track. When a train comes barreling down that same track, Jack tosses his own snack and goes into action. Yet with all his strength he cannot pull the switch to change the train to the other track. Oh, horrors! Will the ant get whacked? Little ones should giggle with glee at Jack's titanic attempts to solve a simple problem. Luckily the ant is every bit as single-minded as his would-be savior. Prince's rollicking rhyme clickety-clacks right along, while Macky Pamintuan's artwork--with the slick, air-brushed look of a computer game--succeeds in setting a brawny Jack and huge engine in counterpoint to the miniscule ant. It's a bravura performance for a first-time out advertising writer--and great fun to boot. 2006, Sterling, $14.95. Ages 2 to 6. Reviewer: Kathleen Karr (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1402721838
ISBN: 9781402721830
Kate Shelley y el tren de medianoche
Margaret K. Wetterer
Ilustraciones por Karen Ritz
This book is based on the true story of a fifteen-year-old Irish immigrant named Katherine Carol Shelley and the night she averted a railroad disaster. The story takes place in 1881 in a small town in Iowa called Moingona. Kate's father died two years earlier and less than a year later her brother drowned. Since that time, Kate has faced great emotional hardship as well as increased responsibility within the home. One night as a dark storm brewed, Kate speaks with her mother and sister about the dangers that a storm could bring to the bridges and the trains that pass over them. Not soon after, they hear a train plunging into the waters of Honey Creek as the bridge collapses. Thinking of her father, who had worked for the railroad, Kate goes out to see if she could help. Crossing flood waters full of mud and debris, Kate comes to the creek's swollen edges and sees the men to safety. Not all is well, however, because Kate knows that in just a short time the midnight express train will come. Without hesitation, she begins a harrowing journey to the station in Moingona and arrives just in time to send a telegram telling the conductors to stop the train. Kate's efforts do not go unnoticed. Newspapers all over the country cover the story. Songs and poems are written in her honor. She is even given a gold medal by the state of Iowa. 2006, ediciones Lener, $23.93. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Michelle Negron Bueno (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 9780822530961
ISBN: 0822530961
Magic Train Ride
Sally Crabtree
Illustrated Sonia Esplugas
Jump aboard for a train ride that will take the reader to various magical worlds. The first two stops are a jungle and the ocean which seem quite ordinary; but the stops or stations get progressively more imaginative as stop three, outer space, shows "So many aliens live on Mars!" and stop four brings the passengers to a magic wood with strange new fruit growing on the trees. The train also travels to a land of cakes and a fairyland. The final stop brings the reader to a new, unnamed world, as the author asks "Where has your magic ticket taken you?" The simple, whimsical, and child-like illustrations carry the reader along in the journey through the book. The illustrations give identity to each station, as only two lines of poetic text are given to the description of each individual world. Much of the story relies on repetitive lines of text, which flow nicely in the song version, but become tedious within the pages of a book. The included compact disc features lively instruments, realistic train sounds, and a pleasing folksy rendition of the book sung by a charming British vocalist. 2006, Barefoot Books, $16.99. Ages 4 to 6. Reviewer: Katie DeWald (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1905236522
ISBN: 9781905236527
Old Penn Station
William Low
Low celebrates one of New York City's architectural landmarks even as he mourns its destruction. He details the work required to build not only the "palace" of the station but also the tunnel to reach it. Pennsylvania Station, completed in 1910, was an elegant destination for thousands. But after World War II, most Americans stopped riding trains to travel by auto. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company, losing money, decided to move the station business underground and build a stadium and office building above it. So the beautiful station had to be destroyed, torn down, with little of the sculptural decoration saved. The only good result of this shocking loss has been the formation of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, which fortunately has saved the other outstanding station, Grand Central, along with other historic buildings, from destruction. Using naturalistic textured oil and computer-generated paintings, Low depicts on the jacket/cover the station glowing with oranges and reds under the night sky's deep blue. The front endpapers show a close-up of construction workers erecting the steel structure; the back shows the hard hats with air hammers taking it apart. Double-page scenes use points of view to full advantage, showing the growth and busy bustle of the station. A group portrait of a dozen artisans in front of some stone statues adds a human dimension to the visual story. There is a bibliography. "A Guide to the Art of Old Penn Station" is a useful supplement available from the publisher. 2007, Henry Holt and Company, $16.95. Ages 5 to 9. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-8050-7925-4
ISBN: 978-0-8050-7925-8
Railroad John and the Red Rock Run
Tony Crunk
Illustrated by Michael Austin
We are back in the Old West, where Lonesome Bob and Granny Apple Fritter are waiting at the Sugar City station to board the Sagebrush Flyer to Red Rock. Railroad John assures them that the train has never been late, so Lonesome Bob will be on time for his two o'clock wedding to Wildcat Annie. But first the train is stopped and they are robbed of their coal by Bad Bill and his outlaw gang. Fueled by Granny's special muffins, they go "cahooting down the tracks" only to find a bridge washed out by a storm. Using his guitar strings, Bob lassos a lightning bolt to cross the creek. Out of fuel again, they are picked up by a whirly-wind and deposited right on time. Wildcat Annie has even captured Bad Bill, for a really jolly wedding. The text is enlivened by songs in the vernacular of the West, and the ridiculous recipe for Granny Apple Fritter's Hard-Shell Chili-Pepper Corn Pone Muffins explains how they fueled the engine. Full-page acrylic paintings in tones of brown are filled with appropriate details, all stylized to enhance the comic melodrama of the tall tale. Austin's characters are sculpturesque, and even the engine has an engaging personality. The scene of an astonished cow flying past the train, eyes popping, adds an exclamation point to the jaunty visuals. 2006, Peachtree Publishers, $16.95. Ages 4 to 8. Reviewers: Ken Marantz and Sylvia Marantz (Children's Literature).
Author Crunk has written an entertaining, funny book about Lonesome Bob and Granny Apple Fritter who board Railroad John's train for a trip to Red Rock, where Lonesome Bob will marry Wildcat Annie. He must be there by 2:00 p.m. sharp because Wildcat Annie waits for no one. Railroad John guarantees that the train will arrive on time because he has never been late once in forty years. But along the way, unforeseen things happen. Bad Bill stops the train and asks for coal for his fire-breathing palomino. Now the train will not run, but Granny's Apple Fritter Chili-Pepper Corn Pone Muffins save the day. They are placed in the train's firebox and everyone is on their way again. Next, the bridge up ahead is washed out, but the train is saved by Lonesome Bob's guitar-box strings lasso. The train is late by twenty-two minutes, but Railroad John says he will make up the time. The adventure goes on with a swirling, swooping storm that lifts up the train and sets it down at the Red Rock station at 1:59. Lonesome Bob makes it on time, but Wildcat Annie is nowhere to be seen. All ends well when Annie rides up on her horse, carrying the coal Bad Bill stole, and then she weds Lonesome Bob. The illustrations are done in tones of brown, cream and white. They are life-like, detailed, and wonderful. 2006, Peachtree Publishers, $16.95. Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Della A. Yannuzzi (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-56145-363-3
ISBN: 978-1-56145-363-4
Red Train
Will Grace
Illustrated by Ed Vere
Learn to count from one to ten in this board book that features different color trains and some very interesting occupants. Bunny drives the choo choo for train number 1, and a pair of lions is in control of the big orange train number 2. The elephants control the yellow train number 3 and the clowns have the long purple train number 8. The Arabic numerals appear on the front of each engine, and the appropriate number of cars and occupants match the number displayed. The final spread is called the friendship train because it combines cars and occupants from all of the others. It is an amusing counting adventure and one that will really appeal to kids who love trains. You can also extend the lesson by learning color recognition. 2006 (orig. 2003), Cartwheel/Scholastic, $3.99. Ages 2 to 4. Reviewer: Marilyn Courtot (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-439-81439-1
ISBN: 978-0-439-81439-3
Shadows on the Train
Melanie Jackson
In this fifth volume of the popular "Dinah Galloway Mystery" series, Dinah and her friends are being pursued on a cross-country train trip and must find the villain before more people disappear. The mystery involves a valuable missing item that has something to do with Dinah's father, an ex-con, an evil looking man, and a suspicious spying woman. Young sleuths will enjoy trying to crack the code and solve the mystery along with Dinah and her friends, Pantelli and Talbot, who each have distinctive personalities of their own. There's also a secondary mystery involving Dinah's soon to be brother-in-law. The story is great fun for middle grade readers, with believable characters, a main character with depth and lots of spunk, and many cliffhangers. Dinah's spirited voice makes the whole experience high energy entertainment. Those who have graduated from early readers like Nate the Great, and chapter books such as the Judy Moody and Meg Mackintosh series, will delight in these mysteries. 2007, Orca, Ages 8 to 12, $7.95. Reviewer: Kathryn Erskine (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-551-43660-4
ISBN: 978-1-551-43660-9
Steam Engines
James Lincoln Collier
Although few machines in today's world are powered by steam, it is impossible to understand the progression of technology without knowing the history of the steam engine. This book from the "Great Inventions" series explores the development of the steam engine and how it affected not only machinery but also society. The first two chapters are devoted to the various inventors who contributed to the steam engine. Chapters three and four explain how steam-powered trains lead to the era of railways in both Europe and the United States. The development of railways in the United States directly paralleled the nation's metamorphosis into a superpower, and the book does a very good job of explaining how this occurred. The final chapter describes the inventions that eventually replaced the steam engine and how it fell out of favor in the modern world. While the book's explanation of how a steam engine works lacks a diagram and might be hard to follow, the historical and societal information is very well presented. 2006, Benchmark/Marshall Cavendish, $25.95. Ages 8 up. Reviewer: Amie Rose Rotruck (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7614-1880-6
ISBN: 978-0-7614-1880-1
This Little Train
Pam Schiller and Richele Bartkowiak
Illustrated by Joshua Janes
Part of the "Noodlebug Series," this pleasant story introduces readers to colors, rhymes, and rhythm. Illustrations and text work together to teach readers a new color and a new rhyme each time they turn the page. Noodlebug invites readers to use their "noodle" as they make their way through this story. Readers are also invited to find where in the story Noodlebug is hiding. Pictures are colorful and filled with detail. Each page frames the pictures with a neutral background, which causes the illustrations to be all the more attractive and engaging. This book is a wonderful way for parents or teachers to introduce colors, rhymes, and rhythm to young children. Because the story format is predictable, it also allows readers to imagine what kind of a carriage will be added next to the little train, and what color it might be. While reading, children can sing to the tune of "This Old Man" which adds yet another dimension to the value of this book. 2006, School Specialty Publishing, $12.95. Ages 3 to 6. Reviewer: Cara Mulcahy (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7696-4278-0
ISBN: 978-0-7696-4278-9
The Train Jumper
Don Brown
Collie and his family are finding it tough to live during the Great Depression. When his father dies, Collie's remaining family quickly disintegrates, with his older brother "Little Bill" becoming an abusive alcoholic and his mother unable to keep a job. Afraid of what he is becoming, Little Bill leaves them to join the CCC as a lumberjack. Collie and his mother are devastated and Collie is determined to find Little Bill and bring him home. He joins thousands of hobos, mostly older boys and young men, riding the rails west to find Bill. What a cast of characters he meets: the older Scarecrow who introduces him to hobo life and its rules; Papa Bear; Rainy Night; young, black Ike who becomes his good friend and companion; the "bulls" whose job is to clear the train of hobos; and the racists both on the trains and off. Collie eventually finds Bill, a reformed man who is succeeding in his new life. Collie's dream of bringing Bill home does not materialize, but his sojourn has made Collie and his family stronger in the long run. A page turner with lots of dialogue, great descriptions of people and places, and short chapters with lots of action, the book is an excellent portrayal of this era. As usual, Brown has done his research thoroughly and weaves lots of history into his riveting tale. 2007, Roaring Brook, Ages 10 to 14, $16.95. Reviewer: Peg Glisson (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 978-1-59643-218-7
ISBN: 1-59643-218-5
Trains
Robert Crowther
Trains manages to purvey a large amount of information along with the fun and excitement of a pop-up discovery trip of rail transportation. This book makes it clear that, while railroad passenger travel may not be what it once was in the United States, it has a long and distinguished history of engineering not only in the building of the trains but also roadways, bridges, tunnels, and monorails to keep cargo and passengers moving. First pulled by horses, trains were then moved by steam, coal, followed by diesel fuel and, finally, electricity. The book begins in the sixteenth century and brings train travel up to the twenty-first century with the Japanese Maglev, which can travel up to 360 miles per hour levitating by magnets along a track. It also follows the development of passenger trains, describes record-breaking trains, discusses railroading challenges, and finishes with a pop-up multi-level train station. Author, illustrator, and paper engineer Robert Crowther wisely designed this 9" by 11u" book to open from bottom to top rather than side to side, allowing the trains to run the long way across the pages. 2006, Candlewick Press, $17.99. Ages 7 up. Reviewer: Eleanor Heldrich (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 0-7636-3082-9
ISBN: 9780763630829
Trains
Chris Oxlade
It is a fact that all parents, at some time, must live through their children's train stage. Toy train sets, train spotting, that certain bullying little English train with the catchy theme song...I have yet to meet a child who didn't love trains, at least for a phase (and I include myself in this sample). This excellent book from the "Mighty Machines" series will help parents deal with all the awkward questions like "Mama, what are trucks?" and "What's a maglev train?" With short and clear sentences a great range of trains is covered, from the first steam locomotives to trains of the future. Funicular railroads, monorails, the Orient Express...there's something for everyone. Each page is illustrated with photographs showing the variety of trains in the world. Young children will enjoy having it read to them; older children, including late readers, will not be bored. Even adults will find information to enjoy in here. Back matter includes a glossary, timeline, and index. 2006, Smart Apple Media, $27.10. Ages 4 to 12. Reviewer: Sara Lorimer (Children's Literature).
ISBN: 1-58340-922-X
ISBN: 978-1-58340-922-0
The Transcontinental Railroad and the Great Race to Connect the Nation
Wim Coleman & Pat Perrin
Westward expansion in the United States was slow going until the Union Pacific and Central Pacific Railroad lines met at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869. Then, almost overnight, the way everything was done in our country changed dramatically. This wonderful resource book details the incredible journey that was taken by many people in the effort to connect the East with the West. This book is filled with historical detail, direct quotes, and photographs, and can stand alone as a very useful educational resource. Another very interesting aspect of the book, however, are the many Internet resources given throughout the book. There are web site pages used as photos throughout the book that give readers a concrete glimpse of the ways in which they could use technology to further their research on a particular topic that was covered in the text. This book is part of the "The Wild History of the American West" series, which is part of the "MyReportLinks.com" collection. The promise of these books is that their web site "will provide access to the Report Links that back up this book and will keep these Report Links up to date on the www.myreportlinks.com web site for five years from the book's first publication date." This book is a highly recommended resource for schools, libraries, and train enthusiasts, as it offers the best of both worlds--holding a book in your hands and using a computer to gather more information. 2006, Enslow Publishers, $33.27. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Trina Heidt (Children's Literature).
Standards of Learning Information
National Council for the Social StudiesTime, Continuity, and Change; Historical periods, 2006
ISBN: 159845014X
ISBN: 9781598450149
For Trains book reviews from the previous year follow click here.
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Updated 9/21/07
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