The Journey of Billy Boom Train [Audio CD]

Brian Batts (Author), Charles Long (Illustrator)

Book Description

The 4-time award-winning audiobook (Benjamin Franklin Award Finalist, Gold Parent's Choice Award & Gold Mom's Choice Award, Young Voices Foundation Gold), The Journey of Billy Boom Train is the first childrens audiobook of its kind. From the ground up, this story was written and produced to make an audio experience that combines storytelling, high fidelity sound effects, and a musical score while told in rhyme. The listener will hear a creative use of every inch of the stereo sound field, mixed with foot-tapping music. The story is strung together by sound effects that become part of rhythmic music, ultimately providing Billy and the listener a path of sound to follow.

Basic Plot (no spoilers): Billy Boom Train is a traveling hobo with a gift of hearing music wherever he goes. He decides to follow this path of sound and music in the hopes that he will find his long lost family.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Nicely executed in rhyme and rhythm with music and ambient sound effects, this original tale by Brian Batts tells of an odyssey of discovery taken in a time past by a lone hobo named Billy Boom Train. Guided by the music that he hears in his head--music sparked by the sounds of the world around him--Billy searches for "a place to belong," after years of hopping boxcars, sleeping under the stars and waking "to a ground wet with morning dew." Before his happy journey's end, Billy has earned a dollar a day working with a track-laying crew, watched a magician perform wonders in a small town, enjoyed a can of beans (luckily al fresco), traveled over hill, and dale and crossed a river on a steamboat. Batts, who also produced, includes an oddly soothing final track that offers nearly 14 minutes of a train chug-chugging down the tracks, with a little harmonica-playing and a few footsteps and voices along the way. --Lynne Heffley © 2009 Parents' Choice

About the Author

Brian Batts was born in 1969 in Chesapeake, Virginia. He began practicing percussion at the age of 15. After graduating from Old Dominion University with a degree in Cytotechnology, his growing love for audiobooks, electric guitar, and a newly born daughter inspired him to create Audiobook Artists, where he would produce his first audiobook, The Journey of Billy Boom Train.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Audiobook Artists (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0615209122
• ISBN-13: 978-0615209128
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,281,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My 9 Yr. Old and I LOVED this!!, February 6, 2009

By 

Bob Nunnally - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey of Billy Boom Train (Audio CD)

My daughter has always loved books on tape/cd. I came across Billy Boom Train on Amazon and went to the author's web site to check it out. Web site has great samples so you can get a feel for what the author is doing with this. Strongly suggest ckecking that out. My daughter was very amuzed the entire cd. We both laughed out loud quite a few time's. I loved how the author incorporated music and sound into the story. Best part.....Funky style music put to an amuzing story!!! I think all ages will love this as we did!

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Audiobook, January 26, 2011

By 

M S - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey of Billy Boom Train (Audio CD)

We are so glad we bought Billy Boom Train. We took it on a road trip and it allowed my wife and I to actually relax while our children listened to it. It grabbed their attention from the moment it started and had them until it was over. I would highly recommend Billy Boom Train to all parents!

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm a Hero, August 17, 2009

By 

Dave Phelps "Dave Phelps" (VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey of Billy Boom Train (Audio CD)

I am a Hero for having gifted this book to several friend's children. I can personally say "The Journey of Billy Boom Train" is an instant classic. The story is wonderful and the illustrations are superbly done.
Can't wait for the follow up!