Next Stop Grand Central [Hardcover]

Maira Kalman (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 4 and up | Grade Level: P and up

The busiest place in the most bustling city in the world has a pulse of its own, and now celebrated artist Maira Kalman shows readers what makes it tick. Full color.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Trains are trips. And trips are adventures. And adventures are new ideas and romance and you can't ever know what in the world will happen which is exactly why you are going." This is precisely the species of serendipity that bounces and leaps through the pages of Maira Kalman's picture book Next Stop Grand Central, a charming tribute to New York's Grand Central Station by the artist whose murals currently spice up the historic terminal. Kalman--brilliant creator of Max the millionaire poet dog in Ooh-la-la (Max in Love)--not only reflects the vibrant nature of the busy hub, she paints comical portraits of the folks behind the scenes who make it all happen: ("Etha delivers the mail--a letter to Mr. Pickle cannot go to Mr. Schnikle.") We're also introduced to the people who "zip and zap and whiz" through Grand Central as passengers: ("The woman with the blue pancake hat is going to Chinatown to buy Poo Nik Tea.") Snapshots of "things you'll see" in the terminal include someone waiting patiently, someone waiting impatiently, and someone looking up. Things you won't see? Einstein sailing and the pyramids of Giza. Next Stop Grand Central is a compassionate, quirky view of a cross-section of humanity--and that, Kalman seems to be saying, is what Grand Central Station is all about. (Ages 5 and older) --Karin Snelson

From Publishers Weekly

Kalman, whose Chicken Soup, Boots visited people (and dogs) at their jobs, salutes the unsung staffers and commuters who pass through New York City's Grand Central Terminal every day. Mention is made of the train station's "stupendous star-filled ceilings" (which also get a sidelong tribute in the endpapers) and the big clock over the information booth, but more attention is paid to the human-scale operations. People dash to and fro, kiss goodbye and hello, and brandish a bagel or a slice of pizza. Affectionate mini-biographies introduce workers (Wanda "hears 100 complaints a week. Could you hear that many complaints and always be polite? She is"), and in the concourse, adults and kids hurry to various destinations: "The woman with the blue pancake hat is going to Chinatown to buy Poo Nik Tea." Passengers board a train run by engineer Mary Donch, and wait for conductor Robert to punch their tickets. Kalman situates her cartoons on a white background, a la Andy Warhol's early illustrations. Nothing is to scale?a gate to a track is tiny next to a person's close-up face?suggesting sensory overload within the vast site. The caricatures are as glib as the tongue-in-cheek narrative voice, yet the author succeeds in recreating the station's frenetic pace and the blurred sense of passersby. Although it is impossible to tell which names and details are imaginary, Kalman's creative reportage conveys the importance of all the individuals whose lives intersect at Grand Central. After all, as the author exclaims, "It's not called grand for nothing!" Ages 5-up.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 4 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (January 25, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399229264
• ISBN-13: 978-0399229268
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #908,038 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Maira Kalman is an illustrator, author, and designer. She has created many covers for The New Yorker, including the famous map of Newyorkistan (created with Rick Meyerowitz). Ms. Kalman's twelve children's books include Max Makes a Million, Stay Up Late, Swami on Rye, and What Pete Ate. She also has designed fabric for Isaac Mizrahi, accessories for Kate Spade, sets for the Mark Morris Dance Company, and, with her late husband Tibor Kalman under the M&Co. label, clocks, umbrellas, and other accessories for the Museum of Modern Art. Ms. Kalman's work is shown at the Julie Saul Gallery in Manhattan.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Another Day at Grand Central....., February 25, 2002

By 

Roz Levine - See all my reviews

This review is from: Next Stop Grand Central (Hardcover)

Author Maira Kalman takes us on a fascinating and entertaining whirlwind tour of Grand Central Station, "the busiest, fastest, biggest place there is." Meet some of the people who work there from Lenny Maglione who's in charge of the whole building, Wanda who hears complaints, Ed, the lightbulb changer, and Marino Marino who makes oyster stew at the Oyster Bar, to Audrey in the information booth who will answer your questions, Melvin Johnson who helps you find the right train and step aboard, and Frank Chidester who runs the Lost and Found. And watch the travelers, waiting, looking up and down and all around, rushing, eating, and going to work, or play, or appointments, or visits. The action never stops at Grand Central because people need to come and go all day and all night long..... Ms Kalman's creative text is full of wordplay, puns, energy, humor, and fun that will send imaginations soaring, and is only outdone by her bold, busy and engaging artwork. Kids will love poring over all the marvelous detailed illustrations and are sure to find something new and exciting each and every time they open the book. Perfect for youngsters 5 and older, Next Stop Grand Central is an innovative smorgasbord of fast-paced action and fun that transports the reader to this very "grand" place for the adventure of a lifetime. "Trains are trips. And trips are adventures. And adventures are new ideas and romance and you can't ever know what in the world will happen which is exactly why you are going." Jump aboard and enjoy!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FORGET BARNEY AND RUGRATS -FINALLY A DECENT BOOK FOR KIDS, July 3, 2003

By 

traceybeehive "traceybeehive" (Laguna Beach, Calif.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Next Stop Grand Central (Hardcover)

Not since Roald Dahl has a writer spoken to kids with such respect and imagination. When I read this to my 4 year old she was filled with questions and ideas and that is all I need to know. Some people have an unconventional style that fits both children and adults and Maira Kalman is certainly one of those people. This book and the Max series will be included in the lives of all the children I will ever know and they will be the happier, more imaginative and more creative for it.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's like Grand Central in here..., December 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Next Stop Grand Centr (Paperback)

This book rules. I work at Grand Central TERMINAL (not Station!) and Kalman captures the marevelous energy and wackiness of the building. I can think of few places that offer such a great opportunity for people watching, and "Next Stop Grand Central" portrays this in a bright and colorful way that adults and children alike can enjoy.