Full Steam Ahead [Hardcover]

Faye Gibbons (Author), Sherry Meidell (Illustrator)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Kindergarten-Grade 3-Told in the first person by an ambitious farm boy who yearns to be an engineer someday, Gibbons's homespun story relates the excitement that grips rural Turkey Creek, GA, when a steam locomotive barrels through town for the first time. The narrative is lean on plot but heavy on atmosphere, using onomatopoeia and regional colloquialisms to good effect; the train approaches with a deafening "schoof-schoof" sound, and the "young 'uns" run to meet it. Today's readers may not grasp how the arrival of a train ever generated so much excitement. Additionally, the characterization and dialogue are somewhat stereotypical and stilted. Meidell's illustrations feature muted hues and sun-splashed, expressive faces. In each image, everything from the red Georgia clay to the hot summer sky is baked bone-dry. This is an adequate treatment of an ever-popular subject. Purchase this one to answer that demand.
Catherine Threadgill, Charleston County Public Library, SC
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Ages 5-8. A genuine steam locomotive is coming to Turkey Creek, Georgia; it's the first train to roll through that neck of the woods. Sammy and his family are hoeing when Grandpa brings the news. Sammy hops in Grandpa's wagon, and they spread the word to folks around the countryside. Suddenly, they hear the whistle, and it's too late to head back to meet it. But Grandpa knows a shortcut to the track, and luckily, the train has stopped at a water tower. Sammy is amazed at what he sees: the train is as "big as the world . . . [and] it smelled like a dream come true." Meidell's expressive, richly textured watercolors capture the joy of the close-knit community and the thrill of the event, and Gibbons' storytelling keeps readers right on track; her pacing and authentic language places young listeners smack in the old-time, rural South. Kids will cheer when Sammy and Grandpa climb aboard for the ride of their lives. Shelley Townsend-Hudson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Boyds Mills Press; 1 edition (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 156397858X
• ISBN-13: 978-1563978586
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,560,682 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars another great book, December 27, 2007

By 

Euell GIbbons "love camping" (Utah) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Full Steam Ahead (Hardcover)

Sherry Meidell does wonderful illustrations and this book is another example of her fun style. Our kids love them.

5.0 out of 5 stars sure to please train-loving kids!, June 14, 2010

By 

L. Nesbitt - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Full Steam Ahead (Hardcover)

My 5-year-old son loves this book, and so do I. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous! The story is very sweet, with a southern flavor. A young boy and his grandfather go around to tell all their neighbors the steam engine is coming through so they won't miss the big show. Then, when the train stops just outside town to take on water, the boy and his grandfather end up meeting the engineer and conductor who let them ride into town to surprise everyone waiting there. Great for railroading fans!