I've Been Working on the Railroad: An American Classic [Hardcover]

Nadine Bernard Westcott (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

An illustrated presentation of the familiar folk song about railroad life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Matched with perky illustrations, the spirited, on-the-job lyrics to this ever-popular American folk song serve as narrative to a lighthearted, contemporary train journey that pays homage to traditional railroad imagery. A singing trio-banjo and harmonica players and a guitarist-climb on board, setting the musical atmosphere. Driven by a cheerful, waving engineer, a boy and his dog, the train chugs its way through idyllic, pastel-colored suburbs, a billboarded desert and hilly, rural expanses. The line "Can't you hear the whistle blowing?" is humorously aimed at a herd of wary-looking cows grazing on and around the tracks, while the legendary horn-blowing Dinah is proprietress of a whistle-stop cafe (painted an eye-catching pink, it's visible from a distance). The musical trio joins her in the kitchen for a rousing, customer-participation song and dance finale. Complete lyrics and musical score are included in the back, along with brief mention of the song's late-19th-century provenance. A worthy interpretation. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2?In the rollicking tradition of The Lady with the Alligator Purse (1990) and Skip to My Lou (1992, both Little), Westcott presents a whimsical rendition of an American classic. In this version, the train starts in a contemporary skyscraper-filled city and travels out to a Western landscape featuring cactus, cattle, and Dinah's Cafe. There, a band of musicians descends from the train, serenades the proprietor and re-boards with a basket of her best pastries. Cockeyed perspectives and bright pastel colors add to the rhythmic qualities of the song. A brief note on this song's origins, as well as the music and lyrics, are appended.?Barbara Chatton, College of Education, University of Wyoming, Laramie
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (January 1, 1900)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786800534
• ISBN-13: 978-0786800537
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,762,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sing while you check out Westcott's art!, June 26, 2000

By 

Carol Frost Vercollone - See all my reviews

This review is from: I've Been Working on the Railroad: An American Classic (Hardcover)

Did you sing "I've been working on the railroad" as a kid? Now Westcott gives you a fun way to sing to your child as you enjoy her illustrations of a train trip from the city station through the 'burbs, farmland, and desert to Dinah's Cafe. Bright and upbeat!

5.0 out of 5 stars Plenty to Sing and Ask About, November 25, 2005

By 

Julie Peters Akey "kabuka1" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I've Been Working on the Railroad: An American Classic (Hardcover)

My preschool-age boys have this book but we plan to buy a second copy to save because we all like it so much. The boys always ask to read and sing "Dinah!"-their name for the book because of the part in the song about Dinah, her kitchen, and blowing her horn. The illustrations are so interesting that my boys are as interested in the pictures as in the singing. When we finish singing, we often go back through the book and talk about all the wacky and wild stuff that is happening. Dinah's restaurant is truely a happening place and all the customers are thoroughly enjoying themselves as the food is flying around them! I definately recommend this fun book. A warning to you though: the song gets stuck in your head!